- Acceptance rate: 93% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 490–590 reading and writing, 490–570 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 18–24 composite
- Average net price: $16,873 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Northern State University reported: an acceptance rate of 93% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 18–24.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Northern State University reviews each application.
Northern State University GPA requirements
Northern State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Northern State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Northern State University acceptance rate
Northern State University admitted 1,010 of 1,086 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 93%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Northern State University is a public 4-year university in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with 3,169 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Northern State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 490 | 530 | 590 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 530 | 570 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
| ACT English | 16 | 20 | 23 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 20 | 25 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1089 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Northern State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Northern State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $16,873 a year at Northern State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get into Northern State University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Northern State University admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How selective is Northern State University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Northern State University admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is Northern State University's acceptance rate?
Northern State University's acceptance rate was 93% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,010 of 1,086 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What are Northern State University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Northern State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 490–590 in reading and writing and 490–570 in math; ACT composite 18–24, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What GPA do you need to get into Northern State University?
Northern State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Northern State University?
Check Northern State University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Northern State University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 2% sent SAT scores and 74% sent ACT scores.
How much does GPA matter at Northern State University?
A lot: Northern State University requires high school GPA, high school record, high school class rank and college preparatory program. It considers recommendations, essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does it matter at Northern State University if a parent went there?
No. Northern State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Northern State University?
Yes. Northern State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
How much does Northern State University cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $16,873 a year at Northern State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Northern State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Northern State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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