Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of North Dakota #402 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,563, placing University of North Dakota in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Air Transportation #1 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level strength anchoring University of North Dakota's dominant Transportation focus and its broader earnings profile. University of North Dakota's composite ranking reflects a consistent record of translating North Dakota public-university access into strong graduate earnings, with Transportation and related applied programs driving outcomes that place the university well above most peers in the Azimuth coverage set. The return and earnings signals together make University of North Dakota a standout among broad-access public institutions, particularly for students entering aviation, logistics, and energy-sector careers where the university's program depth is concentrated.
Azimuth ranks University of North Dakota #402 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Grand Forks, ND, University of North Dakota enrolls roughly 9,981 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 84.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.5%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of North Dakota #359 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $69,563 four years after enrollment, and earn about $2,026 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Dakota in the 49.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Transportation — a field with strong regional and national labor-market demand — is a meaningful driver of that return performance. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. University of North Dakota admits about 76.9% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture, and 17.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 19.1% are first-generation college students. The institution sits in the 65.2 percentile for affordability and the 38.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 76.9 percentile — a profile that reflects the university's role serving a broad North Dakota and regional student population.
University of North Dakota's published cost of attendance is $25,605, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,126; middle-income families pay around $15,206; higher-income families pay approximately $20,730. Azimuth ranks University of North Dakota #496 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. University of North Dakota participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university's aid structure prioritizes closing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The relatively modest gap between published cost and net price across income bands reflects University of North Dakota's public-tuition structure and aid-distribution approach. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,057, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,269; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,563, median federal debt of $22,057 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of North Dakota is a strong fit for students drawn to transportation, aviation, engineering, and applied professional fields who want a public research university in ND with a distinctive program identity and clear pathways to well-paying careers. Graduates earn median $69,563 four years after enrollment, placing University of North Dakota in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $2,026 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 49.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad: 17.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.1% are first-generation students, with an admission rate of 76.9% that makes the university accessible to most qualified applicants. Low-income graduates sit in the 86.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, a meaningful signal for Pell-eligible students weighing long-run returns. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Transportation and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad liberal-arts or social-sciences orientation may find a better match elsewhere. Median student debt at graduation is $22,057, which is worth weighing against the earnings trajectory for students who expect to borrow.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of North Dakota hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern University And A & M College Similar quality tier (#12007 ranked) | LA | 35% | $43,371 | #12007 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina Wilmington Similar quality tier (#12004 ranked) | NC | 64% | $54,967 | #12004 | Compare |
Suny Brockport Similar quality tier (#14060 ranked) | NY | 71% | $54,496 | #14060 | Compare |
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#15098 ranked) | PA | 78% | $61,258 | #15098 | Compare |
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#15113 ranked) | PA | 93% | $52,416 | #15113 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
39 graduates
Air Transportation
298 graduates
Petroleum Engineering
11 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
77 graduates
Civil Engineering
49 graduates
University of North Dakota's program mix is anchored in Transportation — a signature that reflects the university's nationally recognized aviation and aerospace programs and its deep ties to regional industries in energy, engineering, and public service. The dominant program family, Transportation, shapes the institution's earnings profile in ways that distinguish it from most public universities of comparable size, channeling a meaningful share of graduates into high-wage, high-demand technical careers.
The highest aggregate-return program at University of North Dakota is Air Transportation, combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — a combination that makes it a key economic driver for the university's graduates. Among the most popular programs, Air Transportation program graduates 298 students annually with median earnings of $104,472 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nursing and Psychology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each producing substantial graduate cohorts and connecting students to stable regional and national labor markets. The highest-earning programs at University of North Dakota reflect its technical and applied-professional strengths.
Air Transportation leads on four-year earnings at $104,472, and Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a strong result given the program's cohort of 298 graduates. Mechanical Engineering and Nursing also deliver competitive early-career pay, with graduates entering fields where national labor demand remains durable.
For context on how these program families align with broader workforce trends, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of North Dakota's published cost of attendance is $25,605, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,126; middle-income families pay around $15,206; higher-income families pay approximately $20,730.
Azimuth ranks University of North Dakota #496 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.
University of North Dakota participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university's aid structure prioritizes closing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
The relatively modest gap between published cost and net price across income bands reflects University of North Dakota's public-tuition structure and aid-distribution approach. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,057, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,269; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,563, median federal debt of $22,057 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,563, placing University of North Dakota in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,026 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Dakota in the 49.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of North Dakota #359 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of North Dakota also sits in the 86.6 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning $62,200.
The earnings pattern at University of North Dakota is anchored by its dominant concentration in Transportation, a field that channels graduates into specialized, high-demand roles with strong early-career pay. Air Transportation stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong earnings, making it the key driver of the institution's aggregate return story.
Among the top programs by scale and earnings, Air Transportation program graduates 298 students with median earnings of $104,472 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #1 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Nursing and Psychology, General round out the upper tier, with graduates earning median earnings of $79,624 and $55,333 respectively four years after enrollment — both above the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
The program mix spans Business (14% of graduates), Engineering (11%), and Education (5%), a distribution that reflects University of North Dakota's blend of applied professional fields and technical disciplines — and helps explain why its graduates consistently outpace the earnings baseline for ND workers without a four-year degree ($35,041).
