Dickinson State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Dickinson State University charges a net price of $14,092/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $56,368. Graduates earn a median $50,720 ten years after entry, $2,360/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.9 years — a 20-year net return of -$9,168, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Dickinson State University's 23.9-year payback ranks #1,099 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 14% of them, and #10 of 17 in North Dakota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,092/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $56,368 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $50,720 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,360/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,442 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 23.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$9,168 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Dickinson State University's own numbers. Net price $14,092 × 4 years = $56,368 total. Median earnings $50,720 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,360 a year of premium. $56,368 ÷ $2,360 = 23.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$9,168. 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 Dickinson State University students graduate with?
A median $18,442 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $50,720 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Dickinson State University students graduate?
51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $56,368 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $110,525 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Dickinson State University expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?
Its $14,092 net price runs $2,636 above the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, or $10,544 more across the full degree.