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Minot State University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Minot, ND · 2,062 students

The verdict

Minot State University charges a net price of $12,703/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $50,812. Graduates earn a median $51,759 ten years after entry, $3,399/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 14.9 years — a 20-year net return of $17,168, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Minot State University's 14.9-year payback ranks #959 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 25% of them, and #8 of 17 in North Dakota.

Better ROI than 25% of US colleges#959 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$12,703
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$51,759
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
14.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
65%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Minot State University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$12,703/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$50,812our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$51,759Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$3,399/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$19,609Scorecard, 2026
Payback14.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$17,168our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Minot State University's own numbers. Net price $12,703 × 4 years = $50,812 total. Median earnings $51,759 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,399 a year of premium. $50,812 ÷ $3,399 = 14.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $17,168. 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 Minot State University students graduate with?

A median $19,609 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $51,759 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Minot State University students graduate?

45% finish their degree — 55% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $50,812 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $112,916 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Minot State University expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?

Its $12,703 net price runs $1,247 above the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, or $4,988 more across the full degree.

Minot State University: frequently asked questions

Is Minot State University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Minot State University charges $12,703/yr after aid ($50,812 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $51,759 ten years out — $3,399/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 14.9 years and returns $17,168 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Minot State University degree take to pay off?
About 14.9 years. We divide the $50,812 four-year net cost by the $3,399/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Minot State University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $12,703/yr — about $50,812 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Minot State University compare to other North Dakota colleges?
It ranks #8 of 17 North Dakota colleges we track by payback. Its $51,759 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $12,703 net price is below the national median of $16,902.