North Dakota State University's published cost of attendance is $23,716. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $9,370, middle-income families pay around $11,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,856.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $23,716 |
| Tuition and Fees | $15,764 |
| Room and Board | $9,928 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,100 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$8,173 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $15,543 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,370 |
| $30–48k | $11,343 |
| $48–75k | $11,923 |
| $75–110k | $16,082 |
| $110k+ | $18,856 |
North Dakota State University's published cost of attendance is $23,716. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $9,370, middle-income families pay around $11,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,856. Azimuth ranks North Dakota State University-Main Campus #406 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. North Dakota State's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution participates in standard federal aid application processes, and families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based support. The relatively modest net-price figures across income bands reflect both the public-institution tuition baseline and the state's cost of living, which runs below the national average — a factor that shapes both affordability during enrollment and earnings purchasing power after graduation. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,199, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,621; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,679, median federal debt of $23,199 projects to a monthly payment of about $262 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn median 4-year earnings of $67,679, placing North Dakota State University-Main Campus in the 71.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,680 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing North Dakota State University-Main Campus in the 75.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks North Dakota State University-Main Campus #352 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects a program mix anchored in Engineering, a field that consistently delivers strong early-career pay and positions graduates well against peers at comparable institutions. The highest aggregate-return program at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is Nursing, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile. Among the most prominent programs by scale and earnings, Nursing program graduates 204 students with median earnings of $73,935 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #290 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions , at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. Mechanical Engineering and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services also deliver competitive early-career outcomes, with 154 and 144 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $87,702 and $50,052, respectively — Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #168 and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services #46 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The program mix at North Dakota State University-Main Campus skews toward Engineering (16% of graduates), Business (16%), and Education (3%), a concentration in applied and technical fields that helps explain the institution's above-average earnings relative to ND's broader labor market.
