Northern State University (NSU), founded in 1901, has been recognized nationally as one of the best and most affordable institutions by U.S. News and World Report rankings for seven consecutive years. NSU is a public university that is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA. At NSU, students receive personalized attention owing to its small class sizes.

Take a virtual guided tour of Northern State University, ranked in the Top 3 Best Public Institutions in the Midwest and among the Top 10 Most Affordable in the United States!

NSU boasts one of the most beautiful campuses in the Midwest. Historic buildings blend with modern facilities, all centered around a park-like campus green. The campus is within walking distance of downtown Aberdeen, so students can easily explore the community of about 30,000 people. Aberdeen is growing, but still manages to keep a safe, small-community atmosphere.

NSU currently offers 41 undergraduate bachelor's degree programs, 8 associate degree programs, and 19 certificate programs and nine master's degree programs. Recently, 98 percent of first-time, full-time degree-seeking students received financial aid.

Here are a few reasons why students should consider study at NSU.

• Northern State University's WolfPACT Scholarship is the largest guaranteed scholarship in the Midwest region of the United States.
• Tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, health insurance and personal expenses come to approximately $20,000 per academic year, ranking Northern in the Top 10 Most Affordable Institutions by the U.S. News and World Report.
• NSU ranks among top 3 Best Public Institutions in the Midwest
• NSU has roughly a 90 percent graduate job placement rate Northern and prepares students for life after college.
• English language pathways are available to international students who do not meet Northern’s minimum IELTS or TOEFL test score for admission.
• Northern offers pre-professional undergraduate programs in engineering, journalism, dentistry, medicine, optometry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine.
• Northern has 95 outstanding faculty members and a student-faculty ratio of roughly 17 to 1 where students and professors get to know each other.
• Northern's international students come from all over the world. NSU students have a variety of study abroad opportunities in Australia, Chile, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea and elsewhere.
• NSU Wolves Athletics has a proud tradition of excellence, competing in NCAA Division II in eight men’s and eight women’s intercollegiate programs.
• Students have the opportunity to join more than 70 clubs and organizations on campus or start their own.

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest academic unit on campus, with about one-third of Northern students majoring in programs through the college. We prepare students for the global workplace and for further study in post-baccalaureate and professional programs. As a CAS student, you’ll have the freedom to explore all of your intellectual curiosities. Whether you’ve decided on a major or are still exploring your options, we offer dozens of programs from which you can choose.


School of Business

Northern State University’s School of Business introduces students to the world of management, marketing and finance, with a special emphasis on the global aspects of business. The School of Business offers traditional majors, such as accounting, administrative systems/MIS, banking and financial services, business administration, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing and professional accountancy. Business students benefit from small class sizes and the opportunity to study with PhD-degreed faculty, a dedicated academic advisor, accounting and business clubs, internship programs with on-campus job interviews with major companies, and job placement opportunities.

School of Education

For more than a century, the School of Education at Northern State University has built a reputation for preparing exemplary teachers. In fact, more teachers in South Dakota trained at Northern State University than any other institution. With various undergraduate and graduate programs, the School of Education prepares students for careers in diverse areas of education – from traditional classroom teaching to school counseling to e-learning.

School of Fine Arts

Northern State University has a rich tradition in fine arts education. The NSU School of Fine Arts is the largest in South Dakota, consisting of two departments: Art, and Music & Theatre. The Northern State University School of Fine Arts is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Association for Schools of Art and Design. Students of the Art Program at Northern State University will find ample space and modern equipment to explore art education, design, art history, advertising design, computer aided design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking and fiber arts.