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University of North Dakota

#1 Best Colleges in North Dakota
Public Grand Forks, ND · Urban · Plains · 100% data
A- Earnings B- Value C+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
62% C+
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$63,552 A-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$18,551 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
77% C
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +56% vs avg
Graduation +8% vs avg
Net Price 8% vs avg
Mobility Top 44%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in North Dakota.

20.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,450,488.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $20.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.4%
Top 51%
Patents
59
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
9
Downstream influence

Why University of North Dakota Matters

University of North Dakota is a public research university in Grand Forks, ND and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and 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 Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
9,981
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Transportation, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Engineering

Why students choose University of North Dakota

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Transportation
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 41% overall
A-
Earnings
$63,552 median
B-
Value
3.4× net price
C-
Affordability
$18,551/yr net
C+
Graduation
62% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.6% climb Q1→Q5
C
Selectivity
77% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.38 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 10,000 students, the University of North Dakota is a solid choice for those interested in fields like Transportation, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Engineering, and Psychology. The 77% acceptance rate means that a diverse group of students can find a home here. This school is particularly well-suited for individuals looking for a strong academic foundation in these areas, along with a supportive campus environment that encourages growth.

When it comes to life after graduation, students here can expect to earn about $63,552 a decade after completing their degree. That’s a strong return on investment, especially when considering the affordability of attending. The net price after financial aid stands at $18,551, making it accessible for many. While the graduation rate is 62%, those who complete their degrees are likely to see a positive shift in their earning potential, which is important for anyone weighing their options for the future.

Financial considerations are crucial for students today. With a median debt of $22,057, it’s essential to think about how manageable that is in the context of their future earnings. Students who thrive here often appreciate a straightforward academic experience and are willing to engage with the community. This is a place where practical skills meet real-world applications, setting up graduates for success in their chosen fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of North Dakota 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 North Dakota? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.

Acceptance Rate
77%
Retention Rate
84%
ACT Midpoint
23
Full-Time Faculty
92%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,049
Student–Faculty Ratio
17:1
Diversity Index
0.38
First-Gen Students
19%
Applicants
6,597
Admitted
5,494

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 North Dakota? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of North Dakota is $15,570, 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 $18,551. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,126 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,057 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,951
Out-of-State
$15,570
Avg Net Price
$18,551
Median Debt
$22,057
Pell Grant Rate
17%
Federal Loan Rate
41%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$13,126
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,251
Family Income $48K–$75K
$15,206
Family Income $110K+
$20,730

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 North Dakota — 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 North Dakota Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of North Dakota earn a median of $63,552, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$54,588
8 Years
$58,225
10 Years
$63,552
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
79%

Earnings Trajectory

$54,588 6yr $58,225 8yr $63,552 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (668)
36%
100% (668)
36%
100% (668)
36%
100% (668)
36%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation62%Earnings 10yr$64KNet Price$19KRetention84%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate17%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$15K$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%4.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%34.8%MOBILITY1.57%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of North Dakota Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of North Dakota delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,551/year ($74,204 total). Graduates earn $63,552 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,524,692 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,450,488 (20.5× your investment). The median debt is $22,057, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$74,204
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,524,692
Net Return
$1,450,488
ROI Multiple
20.5×
Cost Per Year
$18,551
Median Debt
$22,057
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
62%

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 North Dakota Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of North Dakota 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 1.57%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.57%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
34.8%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$122,278
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of North Dakota? 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 North Dakota. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.73
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.5%
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).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

University of North Dakota produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 59 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.43%
Top 51% nationally
Patents Produced
59
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
9
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
0.24%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$2,444,877

Top Programs

The fields University of North Dakota 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 North Dakota? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.

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

Published tuition at University of North Dakota is $15,570, 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 $18,551. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,126 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,057 in federal student loans.

Is University of North Dakota Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of North Dakota earn a median of $63,552, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

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

University of North Dakota 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 1.57%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of North Dakota? 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 North Dakota. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

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

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