Aberdeen, SD · Clery Act 2024 · Public

Northern State University

Across 2022–2024, Northern State University reported 11 incidents in the Clery Criminal Offenses section, and the yearly count rose over that span (largest filed category: Fondling). Nearby same-state same-level comparison: Dakota State University.

1.62
Incidents / 1k students
#902
Rank of 2,072
#13
SD rank
3,708
Enrolled students

1.62 reported score-category incidents per 1,000 students

Northern State University reports 1.62 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 45% below Plymouth State University. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Plymouth State University (7.28/1k); Lee University (2.42/1k); Georgia Southwestern State University (0.81/1k); Missouri Western State University (4.31/1k); SUNY Corning Community College (0.00/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Dakota State University (0.79/1k); Black Hills State University (0.90/1k); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (0.78/1k); Augustana University (8.79/1k); University of Sioux Falls (0.69/1k); Mount Marty University (4.67/1k); Kairos University (0.00/1k); Oglala Lakota College (0.00/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Fondling.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey

incidents / 1,000 students
1.62
of 2,072 ranked nationally
#902
safer than ranked campuses its size
56%
Criminal Offenses, 2024
4
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Data updated August 2026

Clery Act plate

Sheet 219259 · Northern State University 1.62/1k score rate · #902/2,072

RATE-LOW · RANK-MID · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-SMALL · FIRE-ZERO

  • RATE-LOW 1.62/1k
  • RANK-MID #902/2,072
  • ST-MID #13 in state
  • BELOW-PEER Lee University · 0.81 back
  • ZERO-NONE Scored
  • TREND-UP ↑ 100%
  • CAT-LEAD Fondling
  • ENR-SMALL 3,708
  • FIRE-ZERO 0 fires filed

Nearest enrollment peer: Lee University (+0.81/1k)

Northern State University sheet RATE-LOW · RANK-MID · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-SMALL · FIRE-ZERO · peer Lee University. Codes from this campus OPE filing: score-category rate, national/state rank, named enrollment peer, zero posture, Criminal Offenses trend, lead category, enrollment band, fire filing. Not a moving recommendation.

Clery plate RATE-LOW · RANK-MID · ST-MID · BELOW-PEER · ZERO-NONE · TREND-UP · CAT-LEAD · ENR-SMALL · FIRE-ZERO. Nearest similar-enrollment peer is Lee University (+0.81/1k). National rank #902 of 2,072 scored campuses. Instrument codes from this campus OPE sheet; compare similarly sized peers before treating any single rate as decisive.

Northern State University reports 1.62 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 - 45% below Plymouth State University. Similar-enrollment scored peers: Plymouth State University (7.28/1k); Lee University (2.42/1k); Georgia Southwestern State University (0.81/1k); Missouri Western State University (4.31/1k); SUNY Corning Community College (0.00/1k). Same-state same-level set also includes Dakota State University (0.79/1k); Black Hills State University (0.90/1k); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (0.78/1k); Augustana University (8.79/1k); University of Sioux Falls (0.69/1k); Mount Marty University (4.67/1k); Kairos University (0.00/1k); Oglala Lakota College (0.00/1k). Largest Criminal Offenses total across filed years: Fondling.

Peer-rate neighbourhood around Northern State University

Lowest/highest enrollment peers plus campuses nearest Northern on score-category rate. Full ladder: /rankings/safest-campuses.

per 1,000 students

What this shows Neighbourhood of similar-enrollment peers around Northern State University's 1.62/1k rate, not a full-corpus distribution reprint.

Source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey (Clery Act) As of 2024

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2024

-1 reported incidents

Northern State University decreased from 5 to 4 reported on-campus incidents between the 2023 and 2024 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Signature insight · size does not equal danger

Campus size vs reported safety rate

Among 14 SD 4-year peers in this comparison, Northern State University is larger than 77% and safer-reporting than 31% - the larger, higher-reporting quadrant. Axes are within-sample percentiles so outliers share the same frame; a higher safety percentile means a lower Clery incidents-per-1,000 rate.

Smaller · Safer-reportingLarger · Safer-reportingSmaller · Higher-reportingLarger · Higher-reporting026.352.578.8105020.240.460.680.8Enrollment size, percentile in sampleSafer-reporting percentile (lower rate)Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 85 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 54Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 69 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 46Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 62 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 62Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 54 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 0Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 46 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 69Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 38 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 8Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 31 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 77Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 23 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 77Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 15 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 77Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 8 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 23Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 0 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 77Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 92 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 15Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 100 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 38Northern State University: Enrollment size, percentile in sample: 77 · Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate): 31
Enrollment vs Clery incidents per 1,000 (inverted to safety percentile), 2024 reporting year
Read the chart as text
  • Point 1: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 85, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 54
  • Point 2: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 69, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 46
  • Point 3: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 62, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 62
  • Point 4: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 54, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 0
  • Point 5: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 46, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 69
  • Point 6: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 38, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 8
  • Point 7: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 31, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 77
  • Point 8: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 23, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 77
  • Point 9: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 15, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 77
  • Point 10: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 8, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 23
  • Point 11: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 0, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 77
  • Point 12: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 92, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 15
  • Point 13: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 100, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 38
  • Northern State University: Enrollment size, percentile in sample 77, Safer-reporting percentile (lower rate) 31
Read the chart as a table
CampusEnrollmentRate / 1kSize pctSafety pct
Sisseton Wahpeton College2060.00077
Sinte Gleska University5921.69823
Dakota Wesleyan University8920.001577
Oglala Lakota College1,1880.002377
Kairos University1,2390.003177
Mount Marty University1,2844.67388
University of Sioux Falls1,4500.694669
Augustana University2,3908.79540
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology2,5760.786262
Black Hills State University3,3460.906946
Northern State University (this campus)3,7081.627731
Dakota State University3,7740.798554

Sample of 12 campuses from the plot (sorted by enrollment). Source: U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey + IPEDS enrollment. Rate = on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students; lower is safer-reporting, not a personal-risk forecast.

What changed between 2023 and 2024

Reported on-campus incidents at Northern State University fell from 5 to 4 (-20%). The increase shows up in Fondling (0 to 3). Falling over the same period: Rape (3 to 1), Burglary (1 to 0) and Motor Vehicle Theft (1 to 0).

This describes reported incidents, not crime. Clery counts move with reporting policy, awareness campaigns and how a campus staffs its security authorities, so a rise can reflect better capture of reports and a fall can reflect worse capture. One year of movement at a single campus is not a trend.

What actually gets reported at Northern State University

Across 3 reporting years, on-campus incidents were recorded in 4 Clery Act categories here: Fondling, Rape, Burglary and Motor Vehicle Theft.

The remaining 7 categories were reported with no on-campus incidents, among them Aggravated Assault, Arson, Incest and Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter. Under the Clery Act that zero is an affirmative report that nothing in the category occurred, not an absence of data, which is why the table below lists those rows rather than dropping them.

Counts describe incidents reported under the Clery Act for the on-campus geography. Reporting practice varies between institutions, so counts are not a direct measure of relative safety.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Northern State University: Criminal Offenses by year

Rising 100% (2 → 4 incidents)

123456 202220232024 On-campus incidents, 2022: 2On-campus incidents, 2023: 5On-campus incidents, 2024: 4 2 4 ▲ +100.0%
Read the chart as text
Period On-campus incidents
2022 2
2023 5
2024 4
Crime Type 202420232022
Fondling 302
Rape 130
Burglary 010
Motor Vehicle Theft 010
Aggravated Assault 000
Arson 000
Incest 000
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Table figures show the Criminal Offenses section; other Clery tables are separate

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2024 0 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2024 0 0
Liquor 2024 0 17
Weapons 2024 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 1
Liquor 2023 0 33
Weapons 2023 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Liquor 2022 1 59
Weapons 2022 0 0

Northern State University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are $2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer in those categories).

Selected

SD

Northern State University

1.62 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#902
Enrollment
3,708
Data year
2024

TN

Lee University

2.42 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,155
Enrollment
3,714
Data year
2024

Cost context

Where Northern State University sits on price and outcomes

See South Dakota's cost ranking

At $15,812, Northern State University's reported average net price is cheaper than 30% among 20 South Dakota colleges with a reported figure. The state median is $18,146.

$15,812
average net price
$18,146
South Dakota median
1.9×
six-year earnings to median debt
$7,171
reported income-bracket spread

Net price moves with income here, but not sharply: $10,762 for families reporting under $30,000 against $17,933 above $110,000, a difference of $7,171. Aid narrows the gap without closing it, so the $15,812 average sits reasonably close to what most brackets report.

Median reported earnings six years after entry are $41,536, roughly 2.6 times a year of net price. That is a workable ratio, though it says nothing about how long the programme takes to finish.

Average net price reflects grant and scholarship aid for aided students, not a personal offer. Earnings cover former students who received federal aid; neither measure predicts an individual's outcome.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$8,845
Out-of-State Tuition
$11,947
Avg Net Price
$15,812
Median Debt
$22,320
Pell Grant Recipients
12%
How does this cost rank in SD? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
93%
SAT Average
1089
SAT Math Range
490-570
ACT Average
21
ACT Range
18-24

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Retention Rate
77%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$41,536
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,618
Loan Repayment (3yr)
83%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Similar Institutions

Showing 5 of 1,207 similar institutions by enrollment size.

Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH · 3,707 enrolled
Safety Score 7.28
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · 3,714 enrolled
Safety Score 2.42
Georgia Southwestern State University
Americus, GA · 3,700 enrolled
Safety Score 0.81
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · 3,716 enrolled
Safety Score 4.31
SUNY Corning Community College
Corning, NY · 3,720 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00

Closest by National Rank

Northern State University (national rank #902) sits near Bossier Parish Community College (#903) and Milligan University (#901) on the scored national list, nearest by rank, not by size or state.

Bossier Parish Community College
Bossier City, LA
National Rank #903
Milligan University
Milligan, TN
National Rank #901
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX
National Rank #904
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
National Rank #900
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA
National Rank #899

Nationwide campuses with similar scale or Clery rate

Two Clery-derived peer sets for Northern State University, both outside SD so the neighborhoods are not state containment (Similar Institutions and national-rank neighbors above stay enrollment- or rank-based).

Similar enrollment (nationwide)

Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH · 3,707 enrolled
Safety score 7.28
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · 3,714 enrolled
Safety score 2.42
Georgia Southwestern State University
Americus, GA · 3,700 enrolled
Safety score 0.81
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · 3,716 enrolled
Safety score 4.31
Cameron University
Lawton, OK · 3,696 enrolled
Safety score 0.54
Siena College
Loudonville, NY · 3,720 enrolled
Safety score 3.76
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · 3,722 enrolled
Safety score 1.61
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, OR · 3,722 enrolled
Safety score 5.10

Similar 2024 Clery rate (nationwide)

Milligan University
Milligan, TN · 1,240 enrolled
Safety score 1.61
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX · 10,472 enrolled
Safety score 1.62
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA · 47,764 enrolled
Safety score 1.61
Life Pacific University
San Dimas, CA · 621 enrolled
Safety score 1.61
Edgewood College
Madison, WI · 2,459 enrolled
Safety score 1.63
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · 2,451 enrolled
Safety score 1.63
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · 7,956 enrolled
Safety score 1.63

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northern State University safe?
Northern State University has a safety score of 1.62 (2024 on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #902 nationally out of 2,072 ranked institutions - nearest similar-enrollment comparison: Plymouth State University (7.28/1k). Same-state same-level set: Dakota State University (0.79/1k); Black Hills State University (0.90/1k); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (0.78/1k); Augustana University (8.79/1k); University of Sioux Falls (0.69/1k); Mount Marty University (4.67/1k); Kairos University (0.00/1k); Oglala Lakota College (0.00/1k).
What crimes are reported at Northern State University?
For calendar year 2024, Northern State University reported Fondling (3) and Rape (1) in the Criminal Offenses section. Every other category in that section was reported at zero; other Clery tables are separate.
How does Northern State University compare to similar schools?
Northern State University reports 45% fewer 2024 score-category incidents per 1,000 than Plymouth State University. Scored similar-enrollment peers on this page: Plymouth State University (7.28/1k); Lee University (2.42/1k); Georgia Southwestern State University (0.81/1k); Missouri Western State University (4.31/1k); SUNY Corning Community College (0.00/1k). Same-state same-level set: Dakota State University (0.79/1k); Black Hills State University (0.90/1k); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (0.78/1k); Augustana University (8.79/1k); University of Sioux Falls (0.69/1k); Mount Marty University (4.67/1k); Kairos University (0.00/1k); Oglala Lakota College (0.00/1k).
Does Northern State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Northern State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice.