Winona State vs NSU-Aberdeen

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, Winona State University and Northern State University stand as two distinct academic havens, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. Winona State boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while Northern State maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. When it comes to academics, Winona State offers a broader range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like Business Administration and Elementary Education, while Northern State excels in specialized fields such as Aviation and Nursing. As you explore the comprehensive comparison table below, you'll discover further insights into these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, empowering you to make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Northern State University logo

Northern State University

Winona State University logo

Winona State University

Overview

Location Aberdeen, South Dakota Winona, Minnesota
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
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% 75.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 79.8% 76.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $20
SAT range 1020 - 1190 970 - 1280
ACT range 18 - 24 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 5.0% 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0% 67.0%
Total number of applicants 1,229 5,335
Total number of admissions given out 981 4,103
Admitted students who chose to enroll 337 1,098
Yield rate 34.4% 26.8%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,495

Out of state: $26,597
In state: $22,994

Out of state: $29,494
Average net price $16,821 $17,283
Tuition
In state: $7,616

Out of state: $10,718
In state: $8,100

Out of state: $14,600
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,800

Meal plan: $4,350
Room/dormitory: $6,100

Meal plan: $3,170
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

89.0%
Average amount $5,662
85.0%
Average amount $4,883
Students receiving federal student loan 65.0%
Average amount $4,850
60.0%
Average amount $5,090
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $9,043
21.0%
Average amount $10,358

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,867
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
5,748
Men 33.1% Women 66.9%
Graduate students 473
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
797
Men 19.9% Women 80.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 38.9% N/A
International students 2.1% 1.8%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 853 2,115
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
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.6% 63.0%
Dropout rate 25.4% 8.0%
Transferred out 22.9% 28.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $49,248
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,021
  • Year 3: $46,732
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,902
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $46,239
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,575
  • Year 3: $45,796
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,996
  • Year 2: $40,728
  • Year 3: $45,442
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,033
  • Year 2: $39,523
  • Year 3: $39,953
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,526
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $39,845
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,862
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,740
  • Year 2: $34,526
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,750
  • Year 2: $105,678
  • Year 3: $108,093
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,844
  • Year 2: $63,335
  • Year 3: $70,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,934
  • Year 2: $65,101
  • Year 3: $68,563
Materials Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,265
  • Year 2: $63,217
  • Year 3: $67,302
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $64,791
  • Year 3: $63,622
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,397
  • Year 2: $49,136
  • Year 3: $54,230
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,501
  • Year 2: $42,402
  • Year 3: $52,022
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,367
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $51,055
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $50,209
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,074
  • Year 2: $43,928
  • Year 3: $50,102

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