NSU-Aberdeen vs Western Washington University (WWU)
Northern State University and Western Washington University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Northern State, nestled in the heart of South Dakota, boasts a close-knit community with a focus on personalized attention and undergraduate research opportunities. In contrast, Western Washington, located in the vibrant city of Bellingham, Washington, prides itself on its diverse student body, strong liberal arts foundation, and commitment to sustainability. While Northern State has a higher acceptance rate, Western Washington attracts a larger applicant pool. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors such as Business, Education, and Nursing at Northern State, and Psychology, Biology, and Environmental Science at Western Washington. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Northern State University |
![]() Western Washington University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Aberdeen, South Dakota | Bellingham, Washington |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 79.8% | 96.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$20
Graduate:
$35
|
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$100
|
SAT range | 1020 - 1190 | 1090 - 1310 |
ACT range | 18 - 24 | 22 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 5.0% | 16.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 80.0% | 3.0% |
Total number of applicants | 1,229 | 10,580 |
Total number of admissions given out | 981 | 10,167 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 337 | 2,874 |
Yield rate | 34.4% | 28.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$23,495
Out of state:
$26,597
|
In state:
$26,634
Out of state:
$43,861
|
Average net price | $16,821 | $11,388 |
Tuition |
In state:
$7,616
Out of state:
$10,718
|
In state:
$7,572
Out of state:
$24,799
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,800
Meal plan:
$4,350
|
$13,079 |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
89.0%
Average amount $5,662 |
82.0%
Average amount $7,112 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
65.0%
Average amount $4,850 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,929 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $9,043 |
3.0%
Average amount $15,435 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,867
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
14,019
Men 42.6% Women 57.4% |
Graduate students |
473
Men 26.6% Women 73.4% |
1,106
Men 36.4% Women 63.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 38.9% | N/A |
International students | 2.1% | 1.0% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 853 | 3,985 |
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 | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 47.6% | 67.7% |
Dropout rate | 25.4% | 30.6% |
Transferred out | 22.9% | N/A |
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)
|
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
























































































































































































