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Minot State University

#2 Best Colleges in North Dakota
Public Minot, ND · Urban · Plains · 100% data
B Value B Earnings B Social Mobility
Graduation Rate
46% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$51,759 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$12,703 B-
26% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
65% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +27% vs avg
Graduation -19% vs avg
Net Price +-26% vs avg
Mobility Top 27%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Colleges in North Dakota.

23.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,128,490.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 27% above the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.05% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $23.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Minot State University Matters

Minot State University is a public university in Minot, ND and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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 University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
2,062
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Minot State University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 36% overall
B
Earnings
$51,759 median
B
Value
4.1× net price
B-
Affordability
$12,703/yr net
D+
Graduation
46% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.0% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
65% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.56 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 2,062 students and a 65% acceptance rate, Minot State University is a solid choice for those seeking a supportive and accessible education. Here, students dive into programs like Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Humanities. This variety means that whether you're drawn to the sciences or the arts, there's a place for you to develop your skills and passions.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $51,759 within a decade. This figure reflects the potential for a stable income, especially for those in fields like Health Professions and Education, which are known for their demand. The affordability of attending Minot State is another plus, with a net price of $12,703 after aid, making it manageable for many. Plus, a significant portion of students—24%—receive Pell Grants, which can further ease the financial burden.

When we look at the practical aspects, the median debt for graduates is $19,609, which is reasonable compared to many institutions. This allows students to graduate with a debt load that is often manageable in the context of their future earnings. Those who thrive at Minot State tend to be individuals who appreciate a close-knit community and are eager to engage with their studies and peers. If you're looking for a place that balances affordability with a solid educational foundation, Minot State could be a great fit.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Minot State University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Minot State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Minot State University, located in Minot, North Dakota, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,051. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.

Acceptance Rate
65%
Retention Rate
66%
SAT Average
1051
ACT Midpoint
20
SAT Range
930–1140
ACT Range
18–24
Full-Time Faculty
88%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,340
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.56
First-Gen Students
35%
Applicants
498
Admitted
464

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 Minot State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Minot State University is $8,702, 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 $12,703. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,492 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,609 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$8,702
Out-of-State
$8,702
Avg Net Price
$12,703
Median Debt
$19,609
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
37%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$9,492
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,388
Family Income $48K–$75K
$11,359
Family Income $110K+
$15,632

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 Minot State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Minot State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Minot State University earn a median of $51,759, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$46,214
8 Years
$50,455
10 Years
$51,759
Debt-to-Earnings
0.38x
Earning > $25K
70%

Earnings Trajectory

$46,214 6yr $50,455 8yr $51,759 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (112)
36%
100% (112)
36%
100% (112)
36%
100% (112)
36%

How Minot Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation46%Earnings 10yr$52KNet Price$13KRetention66%Median Debt$20KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$9K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$11K$48-75K$16K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%9.4%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%21.8%MOBILITY2.05%

College ROI Calculator

Is Minot State University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Minot State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,703/year ($50,812 total). Graduates earn $51,759 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,179,302 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,128,490 (23.2× your investment). The median debt is $19,609, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$50,812
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,179,302
Net Return
$1,128,490
ROI Multiple
23.2×
Cost Per Year
$12,703
Median Debt
$19,609
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
46%

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 Minot State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Minot State University 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 2.05%, among the highest in the country. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.05%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
21.8%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
9.4%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$87,497
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Minot State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minot State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.72
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.1%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$4,425,772
Investment Income
$-351,751

Top Programs

The fields Minot State University 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Minot State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Minot State University, located in Minot, North Dakota, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,051. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minot State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Minot State University is $8,702, 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 $12,703. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,492 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,609 in federal student loans.

Is Minot State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Minot State University earn a median of $51,759, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Minot State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Minot State University 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 2.05%, among the highest in the country. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Minot State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minot State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Minot State University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys