Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at NSU

-17.35%

Applicants - since 2015

20.93%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at NSU over the past 10 years is 83.65%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 93.00%. The acceptance rate at NSU is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 34.49%, and the 2025 yield is 35.25%. Overall, the yield has increased by 8.37% from 2015 to 2025.

Key Takeaways: NSU Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 93.00%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that NSU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 35.25%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that NSU is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for NSU and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, NSU received approximately 1,086 applications, admitted 1,010 students, and enrolled 356 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing NSU's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

NSU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at NSU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 83.65%, while the most recent rate stands at 93.00%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 93.00%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 82.01% and for women is 85.54%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at NSU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 72.07% 72.46% 78.64%
2016-17 81.39%
9.32%
78.71%
6.25%
83.67%
5.03%
2017-18 87.83%
6.44%
89.22%
10.51%
86.56%
2.89%
2018-19 88.11%
0.28%
89.92%
0.70%
86.66%
0.09%
2019-20 84.46%
-3.65%
82.54%
-7.38%
86.01%
-0.65%
2020-21 78.71%
-5.75%
74.36%
-8.18%
81.77%
-4.23%
2021-22 79.98%
1.27%
78.09%
3.73%
81.03%
-0.74%
2022-23 78.14%
-1.84%
73.72%
-4.36%
81.97%
0.93%
2023-24 92.79%
14.65%
91.89%
18.17%
93.42%
11.45%
2024-25 93.00%
0.21%
89.24%
-2.65%
95.63%
2.21%
Average 83.65% 82.01% 85.54%
Northern State University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

NSU has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 32.52% in 2015 to 35.25% in 2025, representing a 8.37% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 34.49%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at NSU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 8.37% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 32.52% 30.89% 34.00%
2016-17 38.81%
6.28%
37.98%
7.09%
39.47%
5.47%
2017-18 37.11%
-1.69%
35.55%
-2.43%
38.58%
-0.89%
2018-19 36.03%
-1.09%
38.08%
2.54%
34.31%
-4.27%
2019-20 28.74%
-7.29%
32.69%
-5.39%
25.67%
-8.64%
2020-21 41.74%
13.00%
41.07%
8.37%
42.17%
16.50%
2021-22 33.98%
-7.76%
38.96%
-2.10%
31.91%
-10.25%
2022-23 28.94%
-5.03%
29.86%
-9.10%
28.33%
-3.58%
2023-24 31.77%
2.83%
32.84%
2.98%
31.04%
2.71%
2024-25 35.25%
3.47%
36.93%
4.09%
34.15%
3.11%
Average 34.49% 35.49% 33.96%
Northern State University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 1,155, the average number of admitted is 962, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 328.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Northern State University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 1,314 947 308
2016-17 1,010
-23.14%
822
-13.20%
319
3.57%
2017-18 994
-1.58%
873
6.20%
324
1.57%
2018-19 1,068
7.44%
941
7.79%
339
4.63%
2019-20 1,409
31.93%
1,190
26.46%
342
0.88%
2020-21 1,038
-26.33%
817
-31.34%
341
-0.29%
2021-22 1,229
18.40%
983
20.32%
334
-2.05%
2022-23 1,322
7.57%
1,033
5.09%
299
-10.48%
2023-24 1,082
-18.15%
1,004
-2.81%
319
6.69%
2024-25 1,086
0.37%
1,010
0.60%
356
11.60%
Average 1,155 962 328
Northern State University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Northern State University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Northern State University92.79%93.00%0.23%
South Dakota State University98.34%98.71%-0.37%
University of South Dakota98.78%98.95%-0.17%
Dakota State University88.05%97.87%-10.03%
Black Hills State University96.33%94.43%2.01%
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology79.87%85.25%-6.31%

Ratings & Review

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