Aberdeen, South Dakota · Public · 4-year · Remote town
Overview
Northern State University is a public four-year institution in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The campus sits in a remote town. It enrolled 3,708 students in fall 2024, including 3,169 undergraduates and 539 graduate students. It is part of South Dakota Board of Regents.
Northern State University offers certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees across 62 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Education and Teaching, and General Studies. It awarded 413 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 28 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
77% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 19 to 1.
Key figures
3,708
Students enrolled
77%
First-year retention
413
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
62
Programs and majors
19:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociateBachelorMaster
Programs and majors offered 62
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
77%
First-year retention, part-time students
63%
Student-to-faculty ratio
19:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
229
Associate degrees
26
Master's degrees
136
Certificates under 1 year
16
Postbaccalaureate certificates
6
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
3,708
Undergraduates, fall 2024
3,169
Graduate students, fall 2024
539
Full-time, fall 2024
32%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
5,868
Undergraduates, 2024-25
4,910
Graduate students, 2024-25
958
Full-time, 2024-25
22%
Size category
1,000 to 4,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
62%
Men
38%
White
83%
Hispanic or Latino
4%
Black or African American
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more races
3%
American Indian or Alaska Native
2%
International (U.S. nonresident)
3%
Race or ethnicity unknown
1%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
28
Programs with a fully online option
2
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
57%
Students taking some online courses
15%
Campus and services
Setting
Remote town
Academic calendar
Semester
Part of
South Dakota Board of Regents
Carnegie classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Interim President
Laurie S. Nichols
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact