Make College Affordable
Northern State University offers a first-class education at a low cost making it one of the best-value universities in South Dakota. Our dedicated financial aid team is here to walk you (and your family) through tuition and costs to help you understand the numbers. And if you need financial assistance, Northern offers options such as scholarships, grants, loans and student employment to make your education affordable and attainable.
The Financial Value of Your Northern Education
Is a college degree worth the investment? At Northern State University, it is. College graduates earn $500 more each week than those without a degree - that's $26,000 more a year and $1 million more over a 40-year career. The numbers speak for themselves.
And this kind of college degree is available to you with Northern's low-cost tuition and accessible financial assistance. With your first-class higher education, you'll pay into your future and be able to reap the rewards.
Makenzie (Zomers) Smook graduated from Northern with degrees in finance and marketing. Her job is to take South Dakota's assets – cash, trust funds, retirement system funds – and invest them.
2023-2024 Undergraduate Tuition Costs
These yearly estimates show costs before any scholarships, grants, loans or aid have been applied.
In-State Yearly Estimate
Tuition: $7,615
Fees: $1,228
Room: $5,118*
Meal Plan: $3,902*
Total: $17,863
Minnesota Yearly Estimate
Tuition: $9,562
Fees: $1,228
Room: $5,118*
Meal Plan: $3,902*
Total: $19,810
Out-of-State Yearly Estimate
Tuition: $10,717
Fees: $1,228
Room: $5,118*
Meal Plan: $3,902*
Total: $20,965
* Room and meal plan totals are based on a double-occupancy room in Great Plains East and the Wolf Pack Weekly meal plan. Rates vary.
Tuition Rates per Credit
Undergraduate On-Campus 2023-2024
Costs below do not include all fees. See Fees for discipline-specific fees.
Resident
$253.85
SD Advantage*
$253.85
Child of Alumni (Resident tuition rate is available to children of NSU alumni)
$253.85
Minnesota Reciprocity (Rate is updated annually by the end of August)
$318.72
Non-Resident
$357.25
State employee, Certified teacher, ROTC
$126.95
S.D. National Guard eligible for 100 percent tuition waiver over ArmyIgnitED exhausted
Over 65
$139.60
Active Duty Military - Non-Resident
$250.00
Department of Defense Civilian - Resident
$253.85
Department of Defense Civilian - Non-Resident
$250.00
*Resident tuition rate is available to residents of North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Illinois and Wisconsin
Graduate On-Campus 2023-2024
Costs below do not include all fees. See Fees for discipline-specific fees.
Resident
$333.25
Western Regional Graduate Program States (WRGP)
$333.25
Graduate Assistant - Resident and WRGP
$176.60
Graduate Assistant - Non-Resident
$209.95
Minnesota Reciprocity (Rate is updated annually by the end of August)
$548.51
Non-Resident
$622.15
State Employee, Certified Teacher
$166.65
Over 65
$183.30
Active Duty Military - Non-Resident
$622.15
Department of Defense Civilian - Resident
$333.25
Department of Defense Civilian - Non-Resident
$622.15
Online (internet) and Off-Campus 2023-2024
Costs below do not include all fees. See Fees for discipline-specific fees.
Undergraduate
$354.75
Undergraduate Qualified Veteran
$100.90
Undergraduate Certified Teacher
$227.85
S.D. National Guard eligible for 100 percent tuition waiver after ArmyIgnitED exhausted
Undergraduate Active-Duty Military
$250.00
Undergraduate Spouse and Dependent of Active Military at EAFB & Int., DOD Civilian
$354.75
Undergraduate Externally Supported (Huron Community Campus, Rising Scholars)
$40.00
Undergraduate High School Dual Credit ($96.67 of the rate is paid by the S.D. Dept. of Education)
$145.00
Graduate
$470.45
Graduate Assistant
$313.80
Graduate Certified Teacher
$303.85
Graduate Active Duty Military
$470.45
Graduate Spouse and Dependent of Active Military at EAFB & Int., DOD Civilian
$470.45
Graduate Externally Supported (Huron Community Campus, Externally-Supported Workshops)
$40.00
Additional Attendance Costs
FEES
Tuition rates and fees are approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents and may be revised during the year. Click below to learn more about how these fees are used.
HOUSING COSTS
Our upgraded and fully furnished residence halls are comfortable, safe and clean. Learn more about your future home away from home below.
DINING COSTS
NSU offers a variety of dining and healthy food options for you to choose from. Click below to view different meal plan options and what they include.
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Estimated Annual Expenses
Remember to budget for these estimated annual expenses.
Textbooks and School Supplies
The average cost of books and supplies is $1,200.
Transportation
The average cost of transportation for a student living on campus is $1,400.
Personal Expenses
The average amount of personal expenses is $1,600.