Best Colleges in North Dakota (2026)
Updated
Best Colleges in North Dakota ranks 9 nonprofit four-year institutions in the state. Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for North Dakota, highest first.
The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 1st on this list and reports $67,679 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing. 6 of the 9 schools are public and 3 are private, a 67% public share.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 367th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. Mayville State University posts the lowest average net price at $11,456, and University of Mary reports the highest six-year completion rate at 67%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $67,679 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $67,679 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of North Dakota · Grand Forks, ND | $69,563 | $18,551 | $13,126 | 76.9% |
| Graduates of University of North Dakota earn a median of $69,563 four years after completing, and the university admits 77% of applicants. | |||||
| 3 | Mayville State University · Mayville, ND | $54,027 | $11,456 | $5,971 | Not reported |
| Mayville State University carries an average net price of $11,456, the lowest among the 9 schools on this page. | |||||
| 4 | Minot State University · Minot, ND | $56,408 | $12,703 | $9,492 | 64.6% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 45%, Minot State University ranks 4th on this list and posts median earnings of $56,408 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Dickinson State University · Dickinson, ND | $59,571 | $14,092 | $10,479 | 37.0% |
| Dickinson State University admits 37% of applicants and reports an average net price of $10,479 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | University of Mary · Bismarck, ND | $65,398 | $17,770 | $11,593 | 75.3% |
| University of Mary, a private nonprofit university in Bismarck, graduates 67% of its students within six years, the top completion rate on this page. | |||||
| 7 | Trinity Bible College and Graduate School · Ellendale, ND | $42,326 | $19,359 | $19,123 | 25.8% |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School ranks 822nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $42,326 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Valley City State University · Valley City, ND | $52,034 | $11,890 | $7,879 | 99.1% |
| Valley City State University admits 99% of applicants and carries an average net price of $11,890. | |||||
| 9 | University of Jamestown · Jamestown, ND | $59,388 | $19,567 | $14,788 | 88.1% |
| University of Jamestown reports median earnings of $59,388 for its graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,788 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for North Dakota, highest first. The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The score draws on median earnings of each institution's federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing, alongside other pillars. It does not measure fit or teaching quality. The list includes 6 public and 3 private nonprofit four-year schools.