The cost of college in North Dakota — and what it pays back
Across the 17 North Dakota institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $11,456/yr, $5,446 below the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $50,513 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 10 of the 17 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How North Dakota's 17 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck State College | $10,270 | $54,277 | 3.5 yrs |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | $15,543 | $62,203 | 4.5 yrs |
| University of North Dakota | $18,551 | $63,552 | 4.9 yrs |
| University of Mary | $17,770 | $60,909 | 5.7 yrs |
| University of Jamestown | $19,567 | $56,621 | 9.5 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Mountain College | $3,428 | $32,079 | no payback |
| United Tribes Technical College | $3,569 | $25,292 | no payback |
| Sitting Bull College | $4,605 | $28,488 | no payback |
| Williston State College | $5,932 | $44,017 | no payback |
| Cankdeska Cikana Community College | $6,507 | $17,008 | no payback |
How many North Dakota colleges actually pay for themselves?
10 of 17 — 59% of the North Dakota institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do North Dakota graduates out-earn the national median?
North Dakota graduates report a median $50,513 ten years after entry, $6,965 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.