NSU-Aberdeen vs Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Northern State University and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, located in opposite corners of the country, offer distinct educational experiences. Northern State, nestled in the vibrant city of Aberdeen, South Dakota, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while Southern Arkansas, situated in the charming town of Magnolia, Arkansas, offers a more intimate learning environment. Both universities excel in different areas of study, with Northern State excelling in fields like education and nursing, and Southern Arkansas excelling in business and agriculture. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Northern State University |
![]() Southern Arkansas University Main Campus |
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Overview |
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Location | Aberdeen, South Dakota | Magnolia, Arkansas |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 64.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 79.8% | 62.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
$25 |
SAT range | 1020 - 1190 | 930 - 1140 |
ACT range | 18 - 24 | 18 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 5.0% | 10.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 80.0% | 100.0% |
Total number of applicants | 1,229 | 2,813 |
Total number of admissions given out | 981 | 1,761 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 337 | 632 |
Yield rate | 34.4% | 35.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$23,495
Out of state:
$26,597
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In state:
$26,411
Out of state:
$31,631
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Average net price | $16,821 | $14,141 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,616
Out of state:
$10,718
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In state:
$6,750
Out of state:
$11,970
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,800
Meal plan:
$4,350
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Room/dormitory:
$4,340
Meal plan:
$3,444
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
89.0%
Average amount $5,662 |
98.0%
Average amount $8,861 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $4,850 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,247 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $9,043 |
3.0%
Average amount $8,817 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,867
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
3,160
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
Graduate students |
473
Men 26.6% Women 73.4% |
1,274
Men 35.2% Women 64.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 38.9% | 28.0% |
International students | 2.1% | 7.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 853 | 2,032 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Dakota Minnesota North Dakota Iowa Wisconsin | Arkansas Texas Louisiana Oklahoma Alabama |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 47.6% | 40.1% |
Dropout rate | 25.4% | 23.3% |
Transferred out | 22.9% | 35.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
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