A place that feels like home
At Northern, you can explore numerous art galleries, relax in front of a Student Center fireplace, study in the library, work out in the Barnett Center or even feed the squirrels on the campus green. No matter where you go, you'll always feel at home.
You'll also feel safe on our well-lit, secure campus located in a welcoming community. Rated the No. 2 best small college town in America by USA Today College, Aberdeen is friendly city with a lot to offer Northern students in terms of food, fun, entertainment and culture.
We take pride in our campus, and we also invest in its future. Look around and you'll see numerous improvement projects taking shape, from new residence halls to a new science center. Read on to learn more about our facilities, or visit NSU Master Plan.
Aberdeen is in northeastern South Dakota at the junction of U.S. highways 12 and 281. Northern State University is located at 1200 S. Jay St.
From Highway 281 South:
-Turn east onto Melgaard Road.
-Turn north onto South Lincoln Street.
-Turn east onto 12th Avenue Southeast.
-Turn into the parking lot north of the intersection of 12th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street. Guest parking is available in the lot. You'll find the Admissions Office in the Student Center, located on the east side of the parking lot before the intersection of 14th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street.
From Highway 281 North:
-Turn east onto Sixth Avenue Southeast/U.S. Highway 12.
-Turn south onto South Main Street.
-Turn east onto 12th Avenue Southeast.
-Turn into the parking lot north of the intersection of 12th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street. Guest parking is available in the lot. You'll find the Admissions Office in the Student Center, located on the east side of the parking lot before the intersection of 14th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street.
From U.S. Highway 12 East:
-Turn south onto South State Street.
-Turn west onto 12th Avenue Southeast.
-Turn into the parking lot north of the intersection of 12th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street. Guest parking is available in the lot. You'll find the Admissions Office in the Student Center, located on the east side of the parking lot before the intersection of 14th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street.
From U.S. Highway 12 West:
-Turn south onto South Main Street.
-Turn east onto 12th Avenue Southeast.
-Turn into the parking lot north of the intersection of 12th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street. Guest parking is available in the lot. You'll find the Admissions Office in the Student Center, located on the east side of the parking lot before the intersection of 14th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street.
Northern State University (NSU) acknowledges South Dakota as the ancestral territory of the Santee, Yankton, and Teton Lakota, which is an alliance known as the Oceti Sakowin (o-che-tee sha-koh-ween) (Seven Council Fires). Oceti Sakowin is historically known as the Sioux by non-Native people. The nine Native Nations that share the state’s geography include: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux Tribe. Northern State University acknowledges that before this land was called South Dakota, it was home to many Native Nations indigenous to this area. It is with profound respect that we acknowledge the indigenous peoples of this land past, present and future.
As inspired by: nativegov.org/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment
Learn more about Northern's Cangleska Waste’ (Good Circle) Program.