Northern State University

Non-profit public

Public

Private

Regional

Founded in 1901 in Aberdeen, Northern State University offers distance education classes to high school students across the state. A public institution, NSU enrolls nearly 3,500 students in 59 majors and six pre-professional programs. NSU offers an online bachelor's in banking and financial services that includes a paid internship, as well as a bachelor's in Spanish with a four-week study abroad opportunity. Online graduate programs at NSU include a 36-credit master's in banking and financial services. Educators may select from online master's degrees in leadership and administration, music education, and teaching and learning. The music education program includes one-week summer residencies on campus. Online students at NSU may access many of the same services available to on-campus learners, including tutoring, writing assistance, disability services, and health services.

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Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

91% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

81% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

60% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores:	Considered (not required)	High school transcript:	Required
High school rank:	Considered (not required)	Letter of recommendation:	Considered (not required)
High school GPA:	Considered (not required)	Open admission:	No
Completion of college prep program:	Required	Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL):

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment: Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes

Credit for qualified life experience*:

ⓘ *This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

Learning Environment

Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

63%

Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

15:1

Student to faculty ratio

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

#	Programs	BA	MA	Doc
1	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies	✔	✕	✕
2	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies	✔	✕	✕
3	Biological And Biomedical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
4	Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services	✔	✔	✕
5	Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs	✔	✔	✕
6	Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services	✔	✔	✕
7	Education	✔	✔	✔
8	Engineering	✕	✔	✔
9	English Language And Literature/Letters	✔	✔	✔
10	Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics	✔	✕	✕
11	Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
12	Health Professions And Related Programs	✔	✔	✔
13	History	✔	✔	✕
14	History	✔	✔	✕
15	Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services	✔	✕	✕
16	Legal Professions And Studies	✕	✕	✔
17	Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities	✔	✔	✕
18	Mathematics And Statistics	✔	✔	✔
19	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	✔	✔	✕
20	Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology	✔	✔	✕
21	Philosophy And Religious Studies	✔	✕	✕
22	Physical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
23	Psychology	✔	✔	✔
24	Public Administration And Social Service Professions	✕	✔	✕
25	Security And Protective Services	✔	✕	✕
26	Social Sciences	✔	✔	✔
27	Visual And Performing Arts	✔	✔	✕