Dakota College at Bottineau — ROI, Cost & Payback
Dakota College at Bottineau charges a net price of $10,039/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $20,078. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,576, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Dakota College at Bottineau does not clear its cost — it ranks #13 of 17 North Dakota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,039/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $20,078 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,576 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$7,784/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,507 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$175,758 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Dakota College at Bottineau's own numbers. Net price $10,039 × 2 years = $20,078 total. Median earnings $40,576 fall $7,784 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $20,078 bill in about 2.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Dakota College at Bottineau students graduate with?
A median $10,507 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $40,576 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Dakota College at Bottineau students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,078 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $41,829 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Dakota College at Bottineau expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?
Its $10,039 net price runs $1,417 below the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, and $2,834 less across the full degree.