Valley City State University vs. NSU

Should I go to Valley City State University or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Valley City State University or NSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Valley City State University vs. Northern State University comparison
Valley City State University Northern State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Valley City State University NSU
Location Valley City, ND Aberdeen, SD
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,658 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #689 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vcsu.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Valley City State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $6,619 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $11,583 $10,718
Room & Board $6,957 $9,150
Avg Net Price $12,164 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $7,525 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 Valley City State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 429 1,322
Admitted 358 1,033
Acceptance Rate 83.4% 78.1%
Enrolled % 57.3% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 18/24
SAT Range 1030/1110 800/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Valley City State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (54%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Human Services (4%)
  • Health Professions (4%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Valley City State University NSU
Graduation Rate 42% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,330 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $220 $252

Diversity

 Valley City State University NSU
% Men 41% 37%
% Women 59% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 83%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Valley City State University NSU
% In-State 69% 69%
% Out-of-State 30% 30%

Campus

 Valley City State University NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern State University is larger than than Valley City State University based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 1,658 students)

Valley City State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valley City State University or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 15.1% more expensive to attend than Valley City State University for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $6,619.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.1% higher at Valley City State University than Northern State University ($11,583.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valley City State University than NSU ($12,164 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Valley City State University are 31.5% lower than costs at Northern State University ($6,957 vs. $9,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valley City State University than Northern State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valley City State University students is 31.7% larger than aid received Northern State University ($7,525 vs. $5,715)

Valley City State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valley City State University or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or Valley City State University .

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 63 points higher than at Valley City State University (961)
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Valley City State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Valley City State University (3.31)
  • Valley City State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.4%) than NSU (78.1%)

Valley City State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Valley City State University or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and Valley City State University.

  • The graduation rate at Valley City State University is the same as at Northern State University (42% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Valley City State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $37,400)
  • Valley City State University students graduate with a $3,069 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,330 vs. $24,399)
  • Valley City State University graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($220 vs. $252)
  • More Valley City State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/