Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $22,077. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for South Dakota residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,845 | $11,947 |
| Housing & meals | $10,300 | $10,300 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Personal & travel | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,268 | −$1,268 |
| Total cost of attendance | $22,077 | $25,179 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
NSU net price compared with other South Dakota colleges
NSU has the 4th-lowest average net price of 13 South Dakota colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oglala Lakota College | $1,895 | 9% | $22,517 |
| 2 | Sisseton Wahpeton College | $2,977 | 21% | $31,546 |
| 3 | Sinte Gleska University | $12,768 | 15% | $20,948 |
| 4 | Northern State University | $15,812 | 49% | $47,618 |
| 5 | Black Hills State University | $15,911 | 43% | $46,674 |
| 6 | Dakota Wesleyan University | $19,735 | 48% | $53,728 |
| 7 | South Dakota State University | $19,841 | 62% | $55,070 |
| 8 | University of South Dakota | $19,858 | 60% | $51,926 |
| 9 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $20,183 | 53% | $72,257 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All South Dakota colleges →
Why NSU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern State University | 93% | $15,812 | 49% | $47,618 | This school |
| Dakota State University | 88% | $21,057 | 51% | $50,970 | |
| Black Hills State University | 96% | $15,911 | 43% | $46,674 | |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 80% | $20,183 | 53% | $72,257 | |
| University of South Dakota | 99% | $19,858 | 60% | $51,926 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Northern State University would cost you $5,245 less per year than Dakota State University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Northern State University, mostly from a lower estimate for personal & travel costs (−$3,286).
- Northern State University gives aided families $1,569 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, South Dakota resident | NSU | Dakota State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $8,845 | $9,654 | −$809 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 | $1,200 | $0 |
| Housing & meals | $10,300 | $8,990 | +$1,310 |
| Personal & travel | $3,000 | $6,286 | −$3,286 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,268 | −$377 | −$891 |
| Sticker price | $22,077 | $25,753 | −$3,676 |
| Average grants | −$6,265 | −$4,696 | −$1,569 |
| You pay | $15,812 | $21,057 | −$5,245 |
“+” means NSU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
NSU cost questions
How much is tuition at NSU?
Tuition and fees are $8,845 a year for South Dakota residents and $11,947 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending NSU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $22,077 a year for South Dakota residents living on campus and about $25,179 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at NSU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $15,812 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $10,762; $48–75k pay $15,293; $110k+ pay $17,933. These figures are for South Dakota residents.
How much debt do NSU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $15,750, and 4.7% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
Is NSU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Northern State University overview