ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University is pleased to announce its largest new first-time class since 2014 and largest headcount enrollment since at least 1998.

Northern welcomed 358 first-time students, an increase of 12% over 2023, and increased headcount enrollment by 5.4% to 3,711. Since implementing its strategic enrollment plan in 2022, first-time students have increased 20% and headcount enrollment 11%.

"Northern's programs in pre-nursing, accounting, business administration, education, human performance, and sports administration drew the largest numbers of first-year students this year," said Eric Kline, Northern State University's enrollment management officer.

International student enrollment has risen 67% to 110 with both exchange and degree-seeking students from Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia.

Ranked by Niche as having the No. 1 residence halls in South Dakota and No. 60 nationwide, the total number of on-campus residents grew 14%.

The Northern State University student population at Huron Community Campus has also grown with an increase in headcount from 57 to 84, 38% more credit hours and 45% more credit hours at the undergraduate level.

The Northern Academy, in which Aberdeen-area high school dual-credit students attend classes on Northern’s campus, began in fall 2023 with 29 students and has increased to 42 in 2024.

Graduate degree-seeking student headcount has risen 15% since 2022 and 53% since 2019 with the strongest growth in accounting analytics, art education, banking and financial services, education leadership and administration, and sports performance and leadership.

"Northern provides a transformative college experience in an engaging and safe environment," Kline said. "Our students thrive, whether on campus or online, thanks to our faculty and staff who challenge students academically while providing the support students need to succeed."

In addition, Northern is designing high school dual-credit pathways, including the new gateway to teacher education certificate, where university credits earned while students are in high school count toward their degrees.

Master teachers at Northern's Center for Statewide E-learning continue to deliver quality content courses to approximately 3,000 high school students across more than 100 school districts in South Dakota.

“We have tremendous support from our community, donors, board and state,” said Northern State University President Neal Schnoor, Ph.D. “And we will continue to develop partnerships with our K-12 and higher education colleagues to advance quality education, health care, workforce readiness, economic development and quality of life.”

For more information on Northern’s continued enrollment growth, contact Eric Kline, Northern's enrollment management officer, at eric.kline@northern.edu.