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Basic Information

Type Public
Geographical Reach Regional
Location Aberdeen, SD
Population 50,000
Website http://www.northern.edu/
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 95 (20%) very dry
Sunshine Hours 2,750 (74%)
Days Without Precipitation 270 (84%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 1,089
Men / Women 45% / 55%
From State 70%
From Region 21%
Athletes 49.9%

Racial/Ethnic

White 79%
Hispanic 5%
Mixed 5%
Native American 3%
Black 3%
Asian 2%
International 2%

Men in the Entering Class

Men
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 45.6% 45.6% 2012 Men: 44.3% 44.3% 2013 Men: 46.8% 46.8% 2014 Men: 43.6% 43.6% 2015 Men: 45.1% 45.1% 2016 Men: 43.6% 43.6% 2017 Men: 46.3% 46.3% 2018 Men: 48.1% 48.1% 2019 Men: 49.7% 49.7% 2020 Men: 38.4% 38.4% 2021 Men: 42.7% 42.7% 2022 Men: 43.1% 43.1% 2023 Men: 42.0% 42.0% 2024 Men: 41.3% 41.3%

Entering Class by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Native: 2.2% 2.2% 2012 Native: 4.1% 4.1% 2013 Native: 3.5% 3.5% 2014 Native: 2.6% 2.6% 2015 Native: 4.1% 4.1% 2016 Native: 2.4% 2.4% 2017 Native: 3.2% 3.2% 2018 Native: 2.0% 2.0% 2019 Native: 2.0% 2.0% 2020 Native: 3.7% 3.7% 2021 Native: 3.5% 3.5% 2022 Native: 2.9% 2.9% 2023 Native: 2.9% 2.9% 2024 Native: 2.4% 2.4% 2011 Asian: 1.1% 1.1% 2012 Asian: 0.5% 0.5% 2013 Asian: 0.0% 0.0% 2014 Asian: 0.3% 0.3% 2015 Asian: 0.9% 0.9% 2016 Asian: 0.5% 0.5% 2017 Asian: 0.5% 0.5% 2018 Asian: 0.5% 0.5% 2019 Asian: 1.0% 1.0% 2020 Asian: 2.2% 2.2% 2021 Asian: 1.0% 1.0% 2022 Asian: 1.6% 1.6% 2023 Asian: 1.3% 1.3% 2024 Asian: 3.6% 3.6% 2011 Black: 0.3% 0.3% 2012 Black: 1.9% 1.9% 2013 Black: 0.6% 0.6% 2014 Black: 2.3% 2.3% 2015 Black: 1.9% 1.9% 2016 Black: 2.9% 2.9% 2017 Black: 1.6% 1.6% 2018 Black: 2.0% 2.0% 2019 Black: 2.0% 2.0% 2020 Black: 3.7% 3.7% 2021 Black: 1.7% 1.7% 2022 Black: 3.9% 3.9% 2023 Black: 2.6% 2.6% 2024 Black: 2.7% 2.7% 2011 Hispanic: 1.9% 1.9% 2012 Hispanic: 0.8% 0.8% 2013 Hispanic: 1.8% 1.8% 2014 Hispanic: 1.3% 1.3% 2015 Hispanic: 1.3% 1.3% 2016 Hispanic: 4.2% 4.2% 2017 Hispanic: 2.6% 2.6% 2018 Hispanic: 2.8% 2.8% 2019 Hispanic: 3.8% 3.8% 2020 Hispanic: 2.8% 2.8% 2021 Hispanic: 4.5% 4.5% 2022 Hispanic: 4.8% 4.8% 2023 Hispanic: 2.6% 2.6% 2024 Hispanic: 6.0% 6.0% 2011 White: 89.4% 89.4% 2012 White: 85.8% 85.8% 2013 White: 88.8% 88.8% 2014 White: 89.2% 89.2% 2015 White: 86.1% 86.1% 2016 White: 85.3% 85.3% 2017 White: 87.9% 87.9% 2018 White: 88.9% 88.9% 2019 White: 87.5% 87.5% 2020 White: 75.8% 75.8% 2021 White: 78.5% 78.5% 2022 White: 78.5% 78.5% 2023 White: 84.3% 84.3% 2024 White: 79.5% 79.5% 2011 International: 0.3% 0.3% 2012 International: 0.8% 0.8% 2013 International: 0.0% 0.0% 2014 International: 1.5% 1.5% 2015 International: 0.0% 0.0% 2016 International: 1.3% 1.3% 2017 International: 1.3% 1.3% 2018 International: 2.0% 2.0% 2019 International: 0.8% 0.8% 2020 International: 6.5% 6.5% 2021 International: 3.1% 3.1% 2022 International: 3.5% 3.5% 2023 International: 2.9% 2.9% 2024 International: 1.8% 1.8%

Share of the full-time first-time degree-seeking cohort. Groups IPEDS reports separately — two or more races, and race unknown — are left out, so the lines don't sum to 100%.

Enrolled Undergraduates by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2020 Native: 2.4% 2.4% 2021 Native: 2.4% 2.4% 2022 Native: 1.6% 1.6% 2023 Native: 2.3% 2.3% 2024 Native: 2.4% 2.4% 2025 Native: 2.8% 2.8% 2020 Asian: 1.8% 1.8% 2021 Asian: 1.7% 1.7% 2022 Asian: 2.0% 2.0% 2023 Asian: 2.6% 2.6% 2024 Asian: 1.9% 1.9% 2025 Asian: 1.7% 1.7% 2020 Black: 2.1% 2.1% 2021 Black: 2.5% 2.5% 2022 Black: 3.5% 3.5% 2023 Black: 3.9% 3.9% 2024 Black: 3.9% 3.9% 2025 Black: 3.3% 3.3% 2020 Hispanic: 3.5% 3.5% 2021 Hispanic: 3.7% 3.7% 2022 Hispanic: 4.4% 4.4% 2023 Hispanic: 4.5% 4.5% 2024 Hispanic: 4.6% 4.6% 2025 Hispanic: 5.3% 5.3% 2020 White: 81.6% 81.6% 2021 White: 82.7% 82.7% 2022 White: 80.2% 80.2% 2023 White: 80.6% 80.6% 2024 White: 81.0% 81.0% 2025 White: 79.1% 79.1% 2020 International: 4.2% 4.2% 2021 International: 2.7% 2.7% 2022 International: 4.5% 4.5% 2023 International: 2.7% 2.7% 2024 International: 2.1% 2.1% 2025 International: 2.3% 2.3%

Share of all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates, not just the entering class. Same excluded groups as above.

IPEDS Admissions (2011–2024), Graduation Rates (2011–2024) and 12-month Enrollment (2020–2025) surveys. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Schools & Majors

⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
School of Arts and Sciences 123 34% / 66% 5% $56,544 65 97%
Information Technology 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $72,961 86 —
Chemistry 6 +1 33% / 67% 0% — — —
Mathematics 1 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Biochemistry 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $64,382 78 —
Biology 13 +1 23% / 77% 0% $69,391 83 100%
Ecology 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $55,482 63 —
Clinical Laboratory Science — — — — $72,413 86 —
Kinesiology 21 +1 48% / 52% 5% $58,428 69 —
Sport Management — — — — $56,664 65 96%
English 3 — 33% / 67% 0% $47,490 42 —
General Studies 16 — 56% / 44% 6% $52,590 56 —
History 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $52,873 57 —
International Studies 1 +1 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Political Science 1 — 0% / 100% 0% $60,978 73 —
Psychology 21 — 14% / 86% 10% $56,385 65 94%
Rhetoric and Composition 3 — 33% / 67% 33% $47,415 42 —
Sociology 5 — 0% / 100% 0% $54,288 60 100%
Spanish 2 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Health and Physical Education 7 — 71% / 29% 0% $56,664 65 —
Art — — — — $41,286 24 —
Drama and Theatre Arts 1 — 0% / 100% 0% $38,035 16 —
Graphic Design 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $41,989 26 —
Music 1 — 0% / 100% 0% $43,324 30 —
Studio Art 1 — 0% / 100% 0% $41,482 25 —
Criminal Justice 8 +3 12% / 88% 12% $54,256 60 —
⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
School of Business 54 70% / 30% 6% $63,476 77 98%
Accounting 10 +2 50% / 50% 0% $62,464 75 100%
Banking and Financial Services 6 +1 33% / 67% 0% $77,187 89 100%
Business Administration 20 — 80% / 20% 5% $59,355 70 95%
Finance 8 +1 100% / 0% 0% $77,187 89 100%
International Business 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $67,896 82 —
Marketing 9 — 67% / 33% 22% $51,940 55 100%
⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
School of Education 52 17% / 83% 0% $50,175 50 97%
Biology Teacher Education — — — — $52,465 56 —
Elementary Education 22 +10 9% / 91% 0% $48,442 45 97%
English Education 4 — 0% / 100% 0% $51,395 53 —
History Teacher Education 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $51,499 54 —
Mathematics Teacher Education 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $52,308 56 —
Physical Education 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $51,512 54 —
Secondary Education 2 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Social Studies Teacher Education 2 — 100% / 0% 0% $51,630 54 —
Special Education 13 — 0% / 100% 0% $51,213 53 —
Art Teacher Education 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $52,623 56 —
Music Education 4 — 50% / 50% 0% $51,964 55 —

Financial

In-State Tuition & Fees $9,293
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees $12,710
Est. In-State Cost $12,021
Est. Out-of-State Cost $16,442
ROI Percentile 66th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 77%
4-Year Graduation Rate 34%
6-Year Graduation Rate 49%
Transfer-Out Rate 27%

Six-Year Graduation Rate

Graduated
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Graduated: 37.2% 37.2% 2012 Graduated: 42.0% 42.0% 2013 Graduated: 48.5% 48.5% 2014 Graduated: 44.2% 44.2% 2015 Graduated: 44.2% 44.2% 2016 Graduated: 46.1% 46.1% 2017 Graduated: 45.1% 45.1% 2018 Graduated: 47.6% 47.6% 2019 Graduated: 48.3% 48.3% 2020 Graduated: 45.2% 45.2% 2021 Graduated: 47.6% 47.6% 2022 Graduated: 50.8% 50.8% 2023 Graduated: 52.2% 52.2% 2024 Graduated: 48.9% 48.9%

Students finishing within 150% of normal time. Each year labels the cohort that entered six years earlier — 2024 tracks the class that started in 2018.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Men Women
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 33.3% 33.3% 2012 Men: 32.8% 32.8% 2013 Men: 41.6% 41.6% 2014 Men: 37.8% 37.8% 2015 Men: 40.8% 40.8% 2016 Men: 40.1% 40.1% 2017 Men: 47.8% 47.8% 2018 Men: 43.6% 43.6% 2019 Men: 40.7% 40.7% 2020 Men: 43.9% 43.9% 2021 Men: 45.1% 45.1% 2022 Men: 45.0% 45.0% 2023 Men: 46.3% 46.3% 2024 Men: 44.0% 44.0% 2011 Women: 40.6% 40.6% 2012 Women: 51.7% 51.7% 2013 Women: 53.2% 53.2% 2014 Women: 50.0% 50.0% 2015 Women: 46.2% 46.2% 2016 Women: 51.0% 51.0% 2017 Women: 42.7% 42.7% 2018 Women: 50.9% 50.9% 2019 Women: 55.0% 55.0% 2020 Women: 46.3% 46.3% 2021 Women: 49.7% 49.7% 2022 Women: 55.6% 55.6% 2023 Women: 57.7% 57.7% 2024 Women: 53.5% 53.5%

IPEDS reports the cohort as men and women only.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity

White
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 White: 38.6% 38.6% 2012 White: 45.1% 45.1% 2013 White: 52.3% 52.3% 2014 White: 46.7% 46.7% 2015 White: 48.4% 48.4% 2016 White: 48.8% 48.8% 2017 White: 46.8% 46.8% 2018 White: 50.4% 50.4% 2019 White: 51.5% 51.5% 2020 White: 48.5% 48.5% 2021 White: 53.1% 53.1% 2022 White: 56.1% 56.1% 2023 White: 55.9% 55.9% 2024 White: 55.5% 55.5%

Each group's completers over its own share of the entering cohort. Groups making up less than 2% of everyone this college graduated over the period are left off — their rates swing on a handful of students and read as noise.

IPEDS Graduation Rates survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Business & Economics 23.6% 54 70% / 30% 6% $63,476 77 98%
Humanities & Social Sciences 23.6% 54 26% / 74% 7% $53,890 59 95%
Education 23.1% 53 23% / 77% 0% $50,829 52 97%
Health Sciences 9.2% 21 48% / 52% 5% $58,428 69 —
Life & Natural Sciences 8.3% 19 37% / 63% 0% $66,404 80 100%
Arts 5.2% 12 33% / 67% 0% $46,826 40 —
Professional 3.5% 8 12% / 88% 12% $54,256 60 —
Physical Sciences & Math 3.1% 7 29% / 71% 0% — — —
Computer Science 0.4% 1 100% / 0% 0% $72,961 86 —

Admissions

Uses Common App No
Acceptance Rate 85%
Yield (Unbound) 34%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 85% 85% 85%

Acceptance & Yield

Acceptance Yield
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Acceptance: 93.7% 93.7% 2012 Acceptance: 89.8% 89.8% 2013 Acceptance: 93.3% 93.3% 2014 Acceptance: 82.9% 82.9% 2015 Acceptance: 72.1% 72.1% 2016 Acceptance: 81.4% 81.4% 2017 Acceptance: 87.8% 87.8% 2018 Acceptance: 88.1% 88.1% 2019 Acceptance: 84.5% 84.5% 2020 Acceptance: 78.7% 78.7% 2021 Acceptance: 79.8% 79.8% 2022 Acceptance: 78.1% 78.1% 2023 Acceptance: 92.8% 92.8% 2024 Acceptance: 93.0% 93.0% 2011 Yield: 38.4% 38.4% 2012 Yield: 40.4% 40.4% 2013 Yield: 38.0% 38.0% 2014 Yield: 32.3% 32.3% 2015 Yield: 32.5% 32.5% 2016 Yield: 38.8% 38.8% 2017 Yield: 37.1% 37.1% 2018 Yield: 36.0% 36.0% 2019 Yield: 28.7% 28.7% 2020 Yield: 41.7% 41.7% 2021 Yield: 34.4% 34.4% 2022 Yield: 28.9% 28.9% 2023 Yield: 31.8% 31.8% 2024 Yield: 35.2% 35.2%

Applicants, Admitted & Enrolled

Applicants Admitted Enrolled
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Applicants: 1,134 1,134 2012 Applicants: 1,142 1,142 2013 Applicants: 1,157 1,157 2014 Applicants: 1,379 1,379 2015 Applicants: 1,314 1,314 2016 Applicants: 1,010 1,010 2017 Applicants: 994 994 2018 Applicants: 1,068 1,068 2019 Applicants: 1,409 1,409 2020 Applicants: 1,038 1,038 2021 Applicants: 1,229 1,229 2022 Applicants: 1,322 1,322 2023 Applicants: 1,082 1,082 2024 Applicants: 1,086 1,086 2011 Admitted: 1,063 1,063 2012 Admitted: 1,026 1,026 2013 Admitted: 1,080 1,080 2014 Admitted: 1,143 1,143 2015 Admitted: 947 947 2016 Admitted: 822 822 2017 Admitted: 873 873 2018 Admitted: 941 941 2019 Admitted: 1,190 1,190 2020 Admitted: 817 817 2021 Admitted: 981 981 2022 Admitted: 1,033 1,033 2023 Admitted: 1,004 1,004 2024 Admitted: 1,010 1,010 2011 Enrolled: 408 408 2012 Enrolled: 415 415 2013 Enrolled: 410 410 2014 Enrolled: 369 369 2015 Enrolled: 308 308 2016 Enrolled: 319 319 2017 Enrolled: 324 324 2018 Enrolled: 339 339 2019 Enrolled: 342 342 2020 Enrolled: 341 341 2021 Enrolled: 337 337 2022 Enrolled: 299 299 2023 Enrolled: 319 319 2024 Enrolled: 356 356

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 76%
SAT Range 980 – 1160
SAT Math Range 490 – 570
SAT RW Range 490 – 590

SAT Composite

25th 75th
600 800 1000 1200 1400 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 900 900 2014 25th: 790 790 2015 25th: 860 860 2016 25th: 870 870 2017 25th: 950 950 2018 25th: 930 930 2019 25th: 980 980 2020 25th: 990 990 2021 25th: 1020 1020 2022 25th: 800 800 2024 25th: 980 980 2011 75th: 1060 1060 2014 75th: 1120 1120 2015 75th: 1040 1040 2016 75th: 1050 1050 2017 75th: 1140 1140 2018 75th: 1200 1200 2019 75th: 1190 1190 2020 75th: 1140 1140 2021 75th: 1190 1190 2022 75th: 1150 1150 2024 75th: 1160 1160

SAT Math

25th 75th
300 400 500 600 700 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 460 460 2012 25th: 430 430 2013 25th: 370 370 2014 25th: 370 370 2015 25th: 440 440 2016 25th: 450 450 2017 25th: 480 480 2018 25th: 460 460 2019 25th: 510 510 2020 25th: 510 510 2021 25th: 490 490 2022 25th: 390 390 2024 25th: 490 490 2011 75th: 510 510 2012 75th: 560 560 2013 75th: 580 580 2014 75th: 580 580 2015 75th: 550 550 2016 75th: 540 540 2017 75th: 580 580 2018 75th: 600 600 2019 75th: 620 620 2020 75th: 560 560 2021 75th: 590 590 2022 75th: 570 570 2024 75th: 570 570

SAT Reading & Writing

25th 75th
400 450 500 550 600 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 440 440 2014 25th: 420 420 2015 25th: 420 420 2016 25th: 420 420 2017 25th: 470 470 2018 25th: 470 470 2019 25th: 470 470 2020 25th: 480 480 2021 25th: 530 530 2022 25th: 410 410 2024 25th: 490 490 2011 75th: 550 550 2014 75th: 540 540 2015 75th: 490 490 2016 75th: 510 510 2017 75th: 560 560 2018 75th: 600 600 2019 75th: 570 570 2020 75th: 580 580 2021 75th: 600 600 2022 75th: 580 580 2024 75th: 590 590

Submitting a Test Score

Submitted
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Submitted: 95.0% 95.0% 2012 Submitted: 95.0% 95.0% 2013 Submitted: 98.0% 98.0% 2014 Submitted: 96.0% 96.0% 2015 Submitted: 99.0% 99.0% 2016 Submitted: 99.0% 99.0% 2017 Submitted: 98.0% 98.0% 2018 Submitted: 97.0% 97.0% 2019 Submitted: 96.0% 96.0% 2020 Submitted: 91.0% 91.0% 2021 Submitted: 85.0% 85.0% 2022 Submitted: 85.0% 85.0% 2023 Submitted: 83.0% 83.0% 2024 Submitted: 76.0% 76.0%

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line. Test-score submission adds SAT and ACT submitters, capped at 100% — a student can send both.