Full Admission

 

To be fully admitted to a graduate degree program at Northern State University, the following requirements must be satisfactorily met.

1. Successfully complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. 
2. Earn a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75* and/or a graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale. 
3. Meet all other academic requirements of the specific graduate program you are applying for, which may include prerequisite coursework, licensure, experience, or secondary admission processes. 

If you do not meet the undergraduate GPA requirement, you may still be admitted if you have earned a GPA of 3.0 or better during the last 64 semester hours of bachelor’s degree work or a GPA of 3.25 or better in your major field of study. 

Provisional Admission

 

If you do not meet the requirements for full admission, you may be granted provisional admission as a non-degree-seeking student. This is a temporary status that gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your capacity for graduate level work.

You may request a change in status from provisional admission to full admission after the successful completion these requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of six graduate credit hours. 
2. Earn a GPA of 3.00 or higher.

However, it is important to keep in mind that only nine credits taken as a non-degree-seeking student can be applied toward a graduate program. 

Accelerate (4+1) Program Admission

 

Certain programs have an accelerated option (4+1) where students can earn their undergraduate and master’s degree in 5 years by starting their master’s program while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. 

Undergraduate students at NSU can begin an accelerated master’s program if they meet the following requirements:

1. Have completed 90 undergraduate credit hours.
2. Have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or higher. 

Degree-Seeking Graduate Students

 

You should apply as a degree-seeking student if you intend to complete one of our fifteen graduate degree programs:

 

Application

In the online application, be sure to apply as a degree-seeking student.

Online Application

 

Official Transcripts

You must submit an official transcript showing the award of a bachelor’s degree. A transcript is official only if it is sent from university to university. An e-transcript can be requested and sent to gradstudies@northern.edu, or it can be mailed to:

 

Graduate Office

Northern State University

1200 S Jay Street

Aberdeen SD 57401.

 

A high school transcript is not needed.

For applicants who have received their baccalaureate or graduate degree from NSU or from any of the South Dakota Regental institutions, transcripts are available to NSU and are not to be requested by the student.

 

Application Fee

You must also pay a $35.00 application fee. This fee is assessed on all application to graduate school and can be paid at the end of the online application. 

 

Reference Letters

Two (2) letters of reference are required for admission to the graduate program. These letters must be submitted on your behalf and written by professional or academic contacts not related to you. Recommenders can be identified on the application. The system will generate an e-mail asking them to write a letter on your behalf and submit it back to the application. Completed letters can also be sent to gradstudies@northern.edu.

 

Statement of Purpose (Counseling Students Only)

Your statement of purpose should outline your career goals and explain why you wish to attend graduate school. Only counseling students must submit a statement of purpose. Completed statements can be sent to gradstudies@northern.edu.

International Graduate Students

 

The admissions process as an international student is very similar to the admissions process as a domestic student.

International Admissions Requirements

If you have any questions about the international student graduate application process, please contact gradstudies@northern.edu.

Certificate-Seeking Graduate Students

 

You should apply as a certificate-seeking student if you intend to complete one of our seven graduate certificate programs:

 

Application

You should apply as a certificate-seeking student if you intend to complete one of our seven graduate certificate programs:

Online Application

 

Official Transcripts

You must submit an official transcript showing the award of a bachelor’s degree. A transcript is official only if it is sent from university to university. An e-transcript can be requested and sent to gradstudies@northern.edu, or it can be mailed to:

 

Graduate Office

Northern State University

1200 S Jay Street

Aberdeen SD 57401.

 

A high school transcript is not needed.

For applicants who have received their baccalaureate or graduate degree from NSU or from any of the South Dakota Regental institutions, transcripts are available to NSU and are not to be requested by the student.

 

Application Fee

You must also pay a $35.00 application fee. This fee is assessed on all application to graduate school and can be paid at the end of the online application. 

Non-Degree-Seeking Graduate Students

 

You should apply as a non-degree-seeking student if you intend to complete graduate credit for professional growth. 

 

Application

In the online application, be sure to apply as a non-degree-seeking student.

Online Application

 

Official Transcripts

You must submit an official transcript showing the award of a bachelor’s degree. A transcript is official only if it is sent from university to university. An e-transcript can be requested and sent to gradstudies@northern.edu, or it can be mailed to:

 

Graduate Office

Northern State University

1200 S Jay Street

Aberdeen SD 57401.

 

A high school transcript is not needed.

For applicants who have received their baccalaureate or graduate degree from NSU or from any of the South Dakota Regental institutions, transcripts are available to NSU and are not to be requested by the student.

Application

 

In the online application, be sure to apply as a degree-seeking student.  

Online Application

Application Fee

 

Pay a $35.00 (non-refundable) application fee. This fee must be paid at the end of the online application screen.

Reference Letters

 

Two (2) letters of reference in English are required for admission to the graduate program. These letters must be submitted on your behalf and written by professional or academic contacts not related to you. Recommenders can be identified on the application. The system will generate an e-mail asking them to write a letter on your behalf and submit it back into the application. Completed letters can also be sent to gradstudies@northern.edu.

Statement of Purpose (Counseling Students Only)

 

Your statement of purpose should outline your career goals and explain why you wish to attend graduate school. Only counseling students must submit a statement of purpose. Completed statements can be sent to gradstudies@northern.edu.

Official Transcripts

You must submit an official undergraduate transcript showing the award of a bachelor’s degree. A transcript is official only if it is sent from university to university. An e-transcript can be requested and sent to gradstudies@northern.edu, or it can be mailed to:

 

Graduate Office

Northern State University

1200 S Jay St

Aberdeen, SD 57401

 

Transcripts from foreign universities must be evaluated by World Education Services, Inc. (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), or SpanTran. SpanTran provides an NSU-specific site for your convenience; if you use this NSU-specific link, SpanTran will offer reduced rates.

You may contact the evaluating service of your choice and request the transcript evaluation to be sent directly to the Graduate Office. Evaluation results must be sent directly from the evaluation company to Northern State University to be accepted and considered official.

Declaration of Finances

 

Submit a declaration of finances showing proof that you can support yourself for at least one (1) year, if attending on campus.

Proof of Immunizations

 

Submit proof of MMR1 and MMR2 immunizations, if attending on campus. Please e-mail as an attachment to gradstudies@northern.edu.

Proof of English Proficiency

 

One of the following criteria requirements must be met and submitted to prove adequate English proficiency:

 

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

• A minimum paper-based score of 550 or a minimum internet-based score of 79.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

• A score of 6.0 or higher.

Duolingo English Test

• a score of 100 or higher.

 

Native speakers of English from the following countries do not have to submit English proficiency scores:
American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British West Indies, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, England, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zimbabwe. 

Student Health Insurance is required through Northern State University for all international students.

Please note that the GRE/GMAT is not required.

Upon evaluation of your materials, you will be advised of your acceptance into a graduate program, and an I-20 (United States Immigration and Naturalization form) will be issued to you.

Please feel free to contact the Graduate Office at 606-626-2558 or gradstudies@northern.edu if you have any questions.