Black Hills State vs Northern State
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
C+Compass Score: Solid (grade C+): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Black Hills State UniversitySpearfish, SDCompass Score: SolidB-Compass Score: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Northern State UniversityAberdeen, SDCompass Score: Good
At a glance
- Northern State has the higher graduation rate: 49% against 43% at Black Hills State.
- Median debt is lower at Northern State: $22,320, against $26,000 at Black Hills State.
Scores
Compass Score
C+Compass Score: Solid (grade C+): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
B-Compass Score: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
Academic Excellence
B-Academic Excellence: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
B-Academic Excellence: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
Value
B-Value: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
BValue: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 44%
The college
Category
Regional universities
Regional universities
Location
Spearfish, SD
Aberdeen, SD
Setting
Town
Town
Students
3,475
3,521
Sports
NCAA Division II · Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA Division II · Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Admission
Admission rate
96%
93%
Average SAT
1087
1089
ACT middle 50%
18–24
18–24
Outcomes
Graduation rate
43%
49%
First-year retention
72%
77%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$46,674
$47,618
Median debt
$26,000
$22,320
Cost
Average price after aid
About $16,000
About $16,000
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
About $12,000
About $11,000
$30,001–$48,000
About $13,000
About $12,000
$48,001–$75,000
About $16,000
About $15,000
$75,001–$110,000
About $18,000
About $18,000
Over $110,000
About $19,000
About $18,000
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Accounting $69,079
- Business administration $59,626
- Kinesiology and exercise science $55,622
- Secondary education $52,883
- Sociology $49,833
- Biology $70,545
- Accounting $67,072
- Business administration $56,571
- Kinesiology and exercise science $53,484
- Sociology $50,765
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.