# Best Colleges in North Dakota

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 16 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-north-dakota

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in North Dakota

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering higher education in North Dakota, students and families often look for schools that not only offer solid programs but also provide a good return on investment. This list highlights 16 institutions across the state that share a commitment to student success and workforce readiness.

The top schools on this list are distinguished by their outcomes. Factors like post-graduation earnings, graduation rates, student debt, and mobility give a clearer picture of what students can expect after investing in their education. For example, schools with higher earnings and lower debt often indicate better financial stability for their graduates.

Take Bismarck State College and the University of North Dakota as examples. Bismarck State College has an average earning of $54,277 with a graduation rate of 48%, while the University of North Dakota shows higher earnings at $63,552 and a graduation rate of 62%. This difference highlights the trade-off between financial returns and completion rates, giving prospective students important factors to weigh.

## Key Findings

- The average earning for graduates in North Dakota is $47,249.
- The University of North Dakota has the highest graduation rate at 62%.
- Bismarck State College graduates have an average debt of $11,533, significantly lower than the $22,057 at the University of North Dakota.
- Williston State College has the lowest net price at $5,932.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of North Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-dakota) | Grand Forks, ND | 62% | $63,552 | $18,551 | $22,057 | 0.35x |
| 2 | [Minot State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minot-state-university) | Minot, ND | 46% | $51,759 | $12,703 | $19,609 | 0.38x |
| 3 | [Bismarck State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bismarck-state-college) | Bismarck, ND | 48% | $54,277 | $10,270 | $11,533 | 0.21x |
| 4 | [Williston State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/williston-state-college) | Williston, ND | 41% | $44,017 | $5,932 | $10,099 | 0.23x |
| 5 | [Mayville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mayville-state-university) | Mayville, ND | 40% | $47,828 | $11,456 | $18,585 | 0.39x |
| 6 | [University of Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mary) | Bismarck, ND | 67% | $60,909 | $17,770 | $24,000 | 0.39x |
| 7 | [Valley City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valley-city-state-university) | Valley City, ND | 51% | $52,725 | $11,890 | $20,369 | 0.39x |
| 8 | [Dickinson State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dickinson-state-university) | Dickinson, ND | 47% | $50,720 | $14,092 | $18,442 | 0.36x |
| 9 | [North Dakota State College of Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-dakota-state-college-of-science) | Wahpeton, ND | 52% | $50,513 | $11,261 | $12,000 | 0.24x |
| 10 | [Lake Region State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lake-region-state-college) | Devils Lake, ND | 51% | $49,502 | $13,577 | $10,293 | 0.21x |
| 11 | [University of Jamestown](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-jamestown) | Jamestown, ND | 47% | $56,621 | $19,567 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 12 | [Dakota College at Bottineau](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dakota-college-at-bottineau) | Bottineau, ND | 51% | $40,576 | $10,039 | $10,507 | 0.26x |
| 13 | [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus) | Fargo, ND | 64% | $62,203 | $15,543 | $23,199 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [United Tribes Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-tribes-technical-college) | Bismarck, ND | 28% | $25,292 | $3,569 | N/A | N/A |
| 15 | [Sitting Bull College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sitting-bull-college) | Fort Yates, ND | 23% | $28,488 | $4,605 | N/A | N/A |
| 16 | [Cankdeska Cikana Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cankdeska-cikana-community-college) | Fort Totten, ND | 22% | $17,008 | $6,507 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in North Dakota." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-north-dakota

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.