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University of Jamestown logo
Private nonprofit Jamestown, ND · Town · Plains · 100% data
B+ Social Mobility B+ Earnings C+ Value
Graduation Rate
47% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$56,621 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$19,567 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
88% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +39% vs avg
Graduation -18% vs avg
Net Price 14% vs avg
Mobility Top 18%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Business Colleges in North Dakota.

16.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,192,713.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 39% above the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.48% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $16.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Jamestown Matters

University of Jamestown is a private university in Jamestown, 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
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,041
Setting
Town
Designations
66
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose University of Jamestown

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 45% overall
B+
Earnings
$56,621 median
C+
Value
2.9× net price
C-
Affordability
$19,567/yr net
D+
Graduation
47% graduate
B+
Social Mobility
2.5% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
88% admit rate
D+
Diversity
0.47 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

The University of Jamestown is a solid choice for students looking for a supportive environment and a focus on practical skills. With an acceptance rate of 88%, it welcomes a diverse range of learners. Those drawn to programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and Biology & Biomedical will find tailored paths that prepare them for real-world careers.

Looking at what happens after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $56,621 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure indicates a reasonable return on investment, especially when we consider the net price of attendance, which is about $19,567 after financial aid. While the graduation rate sits at 47%, many students who complete their degrees find themselves well-positioned for upward mobility in their careers.

On the practical side, the median debt for graduates is $27,000, which can be manageable for those who take advantage of the university's financial aid offerings. Students who thrive here often appreciate a close-knit community and a focus on personal development alongside academic achievements. If you're looking for a place where you can get a good education without breaking the bank, Jamestown might just be worth a closer look.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Jamestown 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 University of Jamestown? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Jamestown, North Dakota, University of Jamestown admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.

Acceptance Rate
88%
Retention Rate
67%
ACT Midpoint
21
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,294
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.47
First-Gen Students
28%
Applicants
1,017
Admitted
936

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 University of Jamestown? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Jamestown is $24,990, 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 $19,567. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,788 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$24,990
Out-of-State
$24,990
Avg Net Price
$19,567
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
26%
Federal Loan Rate
61%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$14,788
Family Income $30K–$48K
$14,826
Family Income $48K–$75K
$18,260
Family Income $110K+
$21,448

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 University of Jamestown — 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 University of Jamestown Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Jamestown earn a median of $56,621, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$51,151
8 Years
$53,638
10 Years
$56,621
Debt-to-Earnings
0.48x
Earning > $25K
78%

Earnings Trajectory

$51,151 6yr $53,638 8yr $56,621 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (91)
44%
100% (91)
44%
100% (91)
44%
100% (91)
44%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation47%Earnings 10yr$57KNet Price$20KRetention67%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate26%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$15K$0-30K$15K$30-48K$18K$48-75K$21K$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%5.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%44.4%MOBILITY2.48%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Jamestown Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of Jamestown delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,567/year ($78,268 total). Graduates earn $56,621 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,270,981 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,192,713 (16.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$78,268
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,270,981
Net Return
$1,192,713
ROI Multiple
16.2×
Cost Per Year
$19,567
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
47%

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 University of Jamestown Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Jamestown 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 2.48%, among the highest in the country. About 5.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.48%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
44.4%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.6%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$102,170
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Jamestown? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Jamestown. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.68
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
3.2%
Support Ratio
1.00
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
$5,387,900
Investment Income
$-5,359,065

Top Programs

The fields University of Jamestown 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 University of Jamestown? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Jamestown, North Dakota, University of Jamestown admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Jamestown? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Jamestown is $24,990, 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 $19,567. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,788 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is University of Jamestown Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Jamestown earn a median of $56,621, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does University of Jamestown Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Jamestown 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 2.48%, among the highest in the country. About 5.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $75,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of Jamestown? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Jamestown. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Jamestown.

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.

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