Williston State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Williston State College charges a net price of $5,932/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $11,864. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,017, 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, Williston State College does not clear its cost — it ranks #12 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) | $5,932/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $11,864 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,017 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,343/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,099 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$98,724 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Williston State College's own numbers. Net price $5,932 × 2 years = $11,864 total. Median earnings $44,017 fall $4,343 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 $11,864 bill in about 1.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Williston State College students graduate with?
A median $10,099 in federal loans among completers, or 23% of the $44,017 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Williston State College students graduate?
42% finish their degree — 58% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $11,864 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $28,248 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Williston State College expensive compared with other North Dakota colleges?
Its $5,932 net price runs $5,524 below the $11,456 median across the 17 North Dakota colleges we profile, and $11,048 less across the full degree.