Northern State University Acceptance Rate
Aberdeen, South Dakota · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,082
- Admitted
- 1,004
- Yield
- 31.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Northern State University's acceptance rate has risen from 82.9% in 2014–15 to 92.8% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 1,379 to 1,082 (-22%) over that period.
Its 92.8% rate makes Northern State University more selective than about 14% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 11 tracked South Dakota schools, it is more selective than about 36%.
Northern State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 31.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,379 | 1,143 | 82.9% | 369 |
| 2015–16 | 1,314 | 947 | 72.1% | 308 |
| 2016–17 | 1,010 | 822 | 81.4% | 319 |
| 2017–18 | 994 | 873 | 87.8% | 324 |
| 2018–19 | 1,068 | 941 | 88.1% | 339 |
| 2019–20 | 1,409 | 1,190 | 84.5% | 342 |
| 2020–21 | 1,038 | 817 | 78.7% | 341 |
| 2021–22 | 1,229 | 981 | 79.8% | 337 |
| 2022–23 | 1,322 | 1,033 | 78.1% | 299 |
| 2023–24 | 1,082 | 1,004 | 92.8% | 319 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 638 | 596 | 93.4% |
| Men | 444 | 408 | 91.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18–24 | 82% |
How Northern State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Northern State University's acceptance rate?
Northern State University's acceptance rate is 92.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,004 admitted of 1,082 applicants).
Is Northern State University test optional?
Northern State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Northern State University?
Northern State University received 1,082 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,004.
Is Northern State University getting harder to get into?
Northern State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 82.9% in 2014–15 to 92.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.northern.edu/.