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Best Value Schools in North Dakota

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2023 Best Value Schools in North Dakota

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

11 Schools Ranked
$12,810 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$23,327 Avg Student Debt*

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Schools in North Dakota ranking. This report analyzed 11 schools in North Dakota to see which ones offered the best value programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Schools in North Dakota

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota
1,094 Total Awards
$6,930 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Bismarck State College to be the best value school for students in North Dakota. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,094 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BSC are $6,930 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,840 in student loans. During the early years of their career, BSC graduates make an average of $55,404 annually.

BSC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Schools in North Dakota list.

Read More…

#2

North Dakota State College of Science

Wahpeton, North Dakota
517 Total Awards
$6,606 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State College of Science. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in North Dakota list. Located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 517 degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State College of Science undergraduate students pay an average of $6,606 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $16,451 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, North Dakota State College of Science graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,257 during the early year of their career.

Full North Dakota State College of Science Report

#3

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
454 Total Awards
$12,969 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 11 schools in North Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Valley City State University is a small public school situated in Valley City, North Dakota. It awarded 454 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Valley City State University are $12,969 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,578 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Valley City State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,881 during the early years of their career.

Valley City State University also made our Best Schools in North Dakota list, coming in at #1.

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#4

University of Jamestown

Jamestown, North Dakota
237 Total Awards
$23,498 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Jamestown. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Schools in North Dakota list. UJ is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jamestown, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 237 degrees in 2020-2021.

UJ undergraduate students pay an average of $23,498 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $25,886 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, UJ graduates make an average of $49,749 annually.

Read full report on University of Jamestown

#5

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
265 Total Awards
$10,756 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Mayville State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in North Dakota. Mayville State University is a small public school situated in Mayville, North Dakota. It awarded 265 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mayville State University are $10,756 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,896 in student loans.After graduating from Mayville State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,678 during the early years of their career.

Full Mayville State University Report

#6

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
699 Total Awards
$8,163 Average Tuition & Fees

Minot State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Dakota ranking. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 699 degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MSU are $8,163 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,762 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, MSU graduates make an average of $43,575 annually.

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#7

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota
373 Total Awards
$9,942 Average Tuition & Fees

Dickinson State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #7 on the list. Dickinson State University is a small public school located in Dickinson, North Dakota that handed out 373 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DSU are $9,942 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,653 in student loans.After graduating from DSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,771 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Dickinson State University

3,338 Total Awards
$14,876 Average Tuition & Fees

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in North Dakota ranking. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,338 degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University undergraduate students pay an average of $14,876 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,435 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, North Dakota State University graduates make an average of $48,201 annually.

North Dakota State University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Schools in North Dakota list.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
3,325 Total Awards
$15,037 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Dakota landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. University of North Dakota is a fairly large public school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 3,325 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UND are $15,037 per year. On average, students take out $25,771 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $591.After graduating from UND, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,496 during the early years of their career.

UND also took the #5 spot in our Best Schools in North Dakota rankings.

Read full report on University of North Dakota

#10

Rasmussen University - North Dakota

Fargo, North Dakota
338 Total Awards
$11,847 Average Tuition & Fees

Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, the very small private for-profit school handed out 338 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - North Dakota are $11,847 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $30,604 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $127, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - North Dakota graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career.

Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Report

#11

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
1,127 Total Awards
$20,290 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Mary ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Schools in North Dakota list. University of Mary is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 1,127 degrees in 2020-2021.

UMary undergraduate students pay an average of $20,290 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,314 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from UMary, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,808 during the early years of their career.

UMary also made our Best Schools in North Dakota list, coming in at #3.

Read full report on University of Mary

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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