North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Fargo, North Dakota
Net price / year
$15,543
after grants & scholarships
higher than 65% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
95%
Graduation rate
64%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 80% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$67,679
4 years after graduating
higher than 77% of public 4-year colleges
North Dakota State University-Main Campus at a glance
- What is the tuition at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,110 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $15,764 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- The average cost of attendance is $23,716 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- The average net price for in-state students is $15,543 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- About 95% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted ACT scores had a composite of 19–25 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- 64% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn?
- The median graduate earns $67,679 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.0 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Graduates earn a median $67,679 four years after finishing, more than 77% of public 4-year colleges.
- 64% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 80% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $9,370 a year on average, versus $18,856 for families earning over $110,000.
- Pell Grant recipients completed within 150% of normal time at a rate of 55%, compared with 64% for all students, a gap of 9 points.
Tuition and cost of attendance at North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Average net price (in-state)
$15,543 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the North Dakota State University-Main Campus net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$62,172
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $9,370
- $30–48k $11,343
- $48–75k $11,923
- $75–110k $16,082
- $110k+ $18,856
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $23,716
- Tuition & fees$11,110
- Books & supplies$1,100
- Room & board$9,928
- Other expenses$3,476
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $11,110
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $15,764
North Dakota State University-Main Campus acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Graduation rate
64%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
78%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$246
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.0 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 4.4%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 64%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $43,700 · median $62,203 · 75th percentile $85,613
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 5,432 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 14%
- Making progress 12%
- Not making progress 11%
- Delinquent 1%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 50%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
5,432 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration Bachelor's · Graduates: 69 | $125,175 | 4 yrs$125,1755 yrs$128,964 | U.S. median $116,539 U.S. middle half $78.6K–$140K · Above the U.S. median | $18,481 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician Bachelor's · Graduates: 72 | $95,019 | 1 yr$74,1994 yrs$95,019 | U.S. median $93,843 U.S. middle half $77.4K–$111.7K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $94,510 | 1 yr$75,2124 yrs$94,5105 yrs$92,081 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $21,050 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $92,878 | 1 yr$76,5584 yrs$92,878 | U.S. median $109,015 U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 193 | $87,702 | 1 yr$72,1584 yrs$87,7025 yrs$86,495 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Below the U.S. median | $26,097 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 77 | $87,562 | 1 yr$60,4264 yrs$87,5625 yrs$88,466 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $84,529 | 4 yrs$84,5295 yrs$86,932 | U.S. median $84,624 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$103.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $84,016 | 1 yr$68,8734 yrs$84,0165 yrs$85,379 | U.S. median $98,442 U.S. middle half $81.2K–$121.7K · Below the U.S. median | $25,625 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 113 | $83,992 | 1 yr$72,7294 yrs$83,9925 yrs$81,230 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Agricultural Production Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 95 | $83,779 | 1 yr$62,8694 yrs$83,7795 yrs$72,312 | U.S. median $53,588 U.S. middle half $38K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
Show all 48 programs
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $80,522 | 1 yr$53,1634 yrs$80,5225 yrs$69,912 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $77,589 | 1 yr$67,3034 yrs$77,5895 yrs$68,652 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 90 | $77,296 | 1 yr$59,9534 yrs$77,2965 yrs$70,611 | U.S. median $66,647 U.S. middle half $48.6K–$90.4K · Above the U.S. median | $17,875 |
| Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $76,527 | 1 yr$64,1814 yrs$76,5275 yrs$92,403 | U.S. median $83,290 U.S. middle half $58.8K–$111.6K · Below the U.S. median | $22,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 96 | $74,888 | 1 yr$57,6954 yrs$74,8885 yrs$67,821 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 274 | $73,935 | 1 yr$70,8214 yrs$73,9355 yrs$71,767 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 101 | $71,027 | 1 yr$47,8154 yrs$71,0275 yrs$67,720 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 131 | $67,405 | 1 yr$48,1054 yrs$67,4055 yrs$61,984 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $65,292 | 1 yr$58,7994 yrs$65,2925 yrs$68,601 | U.S. median $75,975 U.S. middle half $60.9K–$92.3K · Below the U.S. median | $31,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 53 | $65,148 | 4 yrs$65,1485 yrs$68,574 | U.S. median $66,914 U.S. middle half $54.2K–$78.6K · Below the U.S. median | $26,875 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $64,014 | 1 yr$40,2624 yrs$64,0145 yrs$68,195 | U.S. median $62,582 U.S. middle half $44K–$83.2K · Above the U.S. median | $24,520 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $62,649 | 1 yr$42,8024 yrs$62,649 | U.S. median $70,193 U.S. middle half $51.2K–$95.4K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $62,285 | 1 yr$55,8284 yrs$62,285 | U.S. median $53,676 U.S. middle half $39K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $18,086 |
| Business/Corporate Communications Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $62,181 | 1 yr$36,5134 yrs$62,1815 yrs$55,166 | U.S. median $65,784 U.S. middle half $46.8K–$85K · Below the U.S. median | $25,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $58,690 | 1 yr$52,3874 yrs$58,6905 yrs$73,309 | U.S. median $71,278 U.S. middle half $51.6K–$89K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 73 | $58,662 | 1 yr$34,1654 yrs$58,6625 yrs$49,471 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,784 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 71 | $58,252 | 1 yr$38,0574 yrs$58,2525 yrs$55,813 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $21,125 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $57,663 | 1 yr$41,8464 yrs$57,6635 yrs$50,837 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $56,197 | 1 yr$40,5584 yrs$56,1975 yrs$54,262 | U.S. median $57,640 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$75.9K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $56,040 | 1 yr$40,4514 yrs$56,0405 yrs$48,327 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $23,324 |
| Environmental Design Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $55,647 | — | U.S. median $57,461 U.S. middle half $44.2K–$73.5K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 84 | $54,784 | 1 yr$35,8914 yrs$54,7845 yrs$50,573 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $22,736 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $54,656 | 1 yr$39,2234 yrs$54,6565 yrs$58,541 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Below the U.S. median | $21,968 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $54,301 | 1 yr$49,4434 yrs$54,3015 yrs$56,261 | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Below the U.S. median | $26,625 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 54 | $53,907 | 1 yr$44,0644 yrs$53,9075 yrs$52,303 | U.S. median $55,693 U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Below the U.S. median | $17,815 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $52,834 | 1 yr$26,6354 yrs$52,8345 yrs$66,331 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $20,342 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $52,570 | 1 yr$40,9714 yrs$52,5705 yrs$60,668 | U.S. median $56,185 U.S. middle half $41.3K–$74.7K · Below the U.S. median | $25,125 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $52,339 | 1 yr$46,9704 yrs$52,3395 yrs$50,243 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Above the U.S. median | $24,791 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $51,277 | 1 yr$41,9844 yrs$51,2775 yrs$50,675 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $50,975 | 1 yr$39,2904 yrs$50,9755 yrs$55,921 | U.S. median $49,634 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.9K · Above the U.S. median | $21,439 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $50,701 | 1 yr$33,1154 yrs$50,7015 yrs$56,284 | U.S. median $44,055 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | $23,808 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 173 | $50,052 | 1 yr$41,7174 yrs$50,0525 yrs$45,968 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $22,775 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 94 | $48,986 | 1 yr$36,6464 yrs$48,9865 yrs$58,801 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $46,117 | — | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $45,578 | 4 yrs$45,5785 yrs$51,625 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $44,457 | 1 yr$36,8144 yrs$44,4575 yrs$35,933 | U.S. median $44,115 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$57.6K · Above the U.S. median | $21,378 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $42,973 | — | U.S. median $40,334 U.S. middle half $26.1K–$53.3K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $40,460 | 4 yrs$40,4605 yrs$47,226 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,500 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 83.6%
- Black or African American 3.4%
- Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
- Asian 1.8%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0%
- Two or more races 4.7%
- U.S. nonresident 0.9%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 1.1%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 48.6%
- Women 51.4%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
6%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 9,471
- Part-time students
- 8%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 20%
- Receive federal loans
- 52%
- Students per faculty member
- 19 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
For the 2024-25 academic year, North Dakota State University-Main Campus reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $11,110 for in-state students and $15,764 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
The average cost of attendance at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is $23,716 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $15,543 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at North Dakota State University-Main Campus get?
20% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 52% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $9,370 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $18,856 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus admitted about 95% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
Among admitted students who submitted ACT scores, the middle 50% had a composite of 19–25 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
64% of first-time, full-time students at North Dakota State University-Main Campus finish within 150% of normal time. 78% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $67,679 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $53,030.
Is North Dakota State University-Main Campus worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For North Dakota State University-Main Campus, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.0 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $23,199, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 64% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things