University Of North Dakota

University of North Dakota admits 77.1% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 4 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places the institution in the Open Access category, providing significantly more accessible admission compared to highly selective universities.

The peer median admission rate of 84.6% shows that University of North Dakota is slightly more selective than typical institutions in its category, though still maintaining broad accessibility for qualified applicants. This level of selectivity means that students with solid academic preparation and reasonable test scores have strong prospects for admission, though meeting minimum requirements remains important.

The university's approach balances accessibility with academic standards, creating opportunities for students who might face challenges at more selective institutions while still maintaining quality standards. For prospective students, this admission rate indicates that building a comprehensive application with strong academic performance, relevant extracurricular activities, and clear academic goals will likely result in admission.

Students should view University of North Dakota as a realistic option rather than a reach school, making it suitable as a target or safety school depending on individual academic profiles. The accessible admission standards, combined with strong post-graduation outcomes, create an attractive value proposition for students seeking quality education without the uncertainty of highly competitive admission processes.

University of North Dakota maintains reasonable costs with meaningful financial aid that reduces the burden for most students. The published cost of attendance reaches $24,580 annually, including $15,570 in out-of-state tuition, $11,046 for room and board, and $800 for books and supplies.

However, the average student pays significantly less at $18,998 after financial aid, representing average savings of $5,582 from the sticker price. Compared to peer institutions, University of North Dakota's net price runs $4,905 higher than the peer median of $14,093, indicating somewhat higher costs than typical public universities in similar categories.

The difference between published costs and actual net price demonstrates the university's commitment to making education affordable through institutional aid and federal programs. In-state students benefit from reduced tuition of $10,951, creating additional savings for North Dakota residents.

The cost structure reflects the university's positioning as a comprehensive public institution that balances quality programming with reasonable pricing, though families should budget for costs above typical regional public university levels.

University of North Dakota graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth and strong long-term financial outcomes. Median earnings progress from $54,588 six years after enrollment to $58,225 at eight years and $63,552 at ten years, representing solid 16.4% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on robust cohorts of 3,639 graduates at the ten-year mark, providing high confidence in reported figures. The institution performs well above average on earnings metrics, with graduates earning $9,403 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, ranking at the 84th percentile for this uplift measure.

Low-income graduates achieve particularly impressive outcomes at $62,200 annually, demonstrating the university's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility for students from lower-income backgrounds. The earnings distribution from $43,722 to $88,520 represents meaningful variation across programs and career paths, with a 2.0:1 ratio between the 75th and 25th percentiles.

Approximately 23.2% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education. Compared to peer institutions with similar student demographics, University of North Dakota graduates earn $13,436 more annually, highlighting the institution's ability to deliver superior post-graduation outcomes within its institutional category.

University of North Dakota offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for comprehensive analysis. The institution's standout program is Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, ranking #3 nationally and #1 in North Dakota, graduating 196 students with median earnings of $74,569 and an exceptional value score of 92.0.

Engineering programs demonstrate strong national competitiveness, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $91,053, Chemical Engineering graduates earning $88,123, and Mechanical Engineering ranking within the top 167 nationally. The university shows particular strength in specialized fields, with General Studies ranking #11 nationally and achieving a 94.5 value score, while Digital Marketing ranks #48 nationally with strong earnings of $64,234.

Health programs maintain solid performance with Adult Health Nursing graduating 120 students annually and Biology ranking #70 nationally with a strong value score of 81.3. Business programs serve significant student populations, with multiple programs graduating 75-100 students each while maintaining competitive earnings outcomes and national rankings.