Bismarck State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bismarck State College charges a net price of $10,270/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $20,540. Graduates earn a median $54,277 ten years after entry, $5,917/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.5 years — a 20-year net return of $97,800, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bismarck State College's 3.5-year payback ranks #227 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 82% of them, and #1 of 17 in North Dakota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,270/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $20,540 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,277 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,917/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,533 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $97,800 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bismarck State College's own numbers. Net price $10,270 × 2 years = $20,540 total. Median earnings $54,277 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,917 a year of premium. $20,540 ÷ $5,917 = 3.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $97,800. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bismarck State College students graduate with?
A median $11,533 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $54,277 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bismarck State College students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,540 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $43,702 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bismarck State College expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?
Its $10,270 net price runs $1,186 below the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, and $2,372 less across the full degree.