Bismarck State College
#2 Best Master's Programs in North Dakota- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,277 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $10,270 B
- 40% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,839
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.7 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Master's Programs in North Dakota.
Every $1 spent returns $28.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,136,884.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.52% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bismarck State College Matters
Bismarck State College is a public community college in Bismarck, ND and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,839
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Bismarck State College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,270 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,277 ten years after enrolling — 33% above the typical college, against $11,533 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 17% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.63 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of nearly 2,840 students, Bismarck State College is a solid choice for those looking for a supportive community and a diverse range of academic programs. Students can dive into fields like Humanities, Computer Science, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Construction Trades. This variety means there’s a good chance you'll find a path that resonates with your interests and career goals.
Looking at life after graduation, the potential for earnings is noteworthy, with alumni reporting a median income of $54,277 a decade after finishing their studies. This figure is a strong indicator of how the college prepares students for the workforce. Although we don’t have specific mobility data, the experience and education gained here can be a stepping stone to upward mobility in various fields.
In terms of affordability, the net price after aid stands at $10,270, which is manageable for many families. Students typically graduate with a median debt of $11,533, making it a reasonable investment in education. Those who thrive here often appreciate the balance of practical skills and academic knowledge, paving the way for both personal and professional growth.
Rankings
- #2 Best Master's Programs in North Dakota
- #3 Best Colleges in North Dakota
- #3 Best Online Colleges in North Dakota
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota
- #8 Best Community Colleges
- #9 Best Business Colleges in North Dakota
- #9 Best Nursing Colleges in North Dakota
- #9 Best Vocational & Technical Schools
Can I Get In?
How selective Bismarck State College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bismarck State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bismarck State College, located in Bismarck, North Dakota, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 92%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,184
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.35
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bismarck State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bismarck State College is $7,331, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,270. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,140 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,533 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,247
- Out-of-State
- $7,331
- Avg Net Price
- $10,270
- Median Debt
- $11,533
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,140
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,828
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,524
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,979
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bismarck State College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bismarck State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bismarck State College earn a median of $54,277, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,401
- 8 Years
- $50,690
- 10 Years
- $54,277
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
How Bismarck Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Bismarck State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bismarck State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,270/year ($41,080 total). Graduates earn $54,277 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,177,964 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,136,884 (28.7× your investment). The median debt is $11,533, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,080
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,177,964
- Net Return
- $1,136,884
- ROI Multiple
- 28.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,270
- Median Debt
- $11,533
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Bismarck State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bismarck State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.52%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.52%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $92,796
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,125,883
- Investment Income
- $16,497
Top Programs
The fields Bismarck State College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 27%
- Computer Science & IT 13% $54,760 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $66,496 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $124,462 early-career
- Construction Trades 6% $63,400 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4% $43,782 early-career
- Precision Production 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $34,852 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bismarck State College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bismarck State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bismarck State College, located in Bismarck, North Dakota, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bismarck State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bismarck State College is $7,331, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,270. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,140 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,533 in federal student loans.
Is Bismarck State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bismarck State College earn a median of $54,277, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Bismarck State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bismarck State College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.52%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Bismarck State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bismarck State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bismarck State College.
- Colorado State University PuebloPueblo, CO · Close peer39% grad $55,563 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- University of Hawaii-West OahuKapolei, HI · Close peer48% grad $52,075 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WI · Close peer40% grad $51,129 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN · Close peer51% grad $53,755 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MD · Close peer51% grad $55,493 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Xavier UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer58% grad $58,656 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bismarck State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bismarck State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note