University of Jamestown
Jamestown, North Dakota · Private Nonprofit · 88.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Jamestown scores 55 (Below Average Value), weighed down by a 10.1-year payback period, a 49% completion rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.682. The North Dakota private college enrolls 1,041 students and charges $24,990 tuition with a net price of $19,567. Average 6-year earnings of $39,600 are modest. The repayment rate is a relative bright spot at 89.6%, suggesting that students who do graduate manage their debt. Nursing is the top program by earnings, but the overall profile signals meaningful financial risk for students who don't complete.
University of Jamestown
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $24,990/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,990/yr |
| Average net price | $19,567/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,268 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,621 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,041 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $24,990/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,567/year, or roughly $78,268 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,788/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,448/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,600) and comes to 0.68, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,788 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,826 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,260 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,408 |
| $110,001+ | $21,448 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $14,788 per year at Jamestown. At four-year total cost near $59,000 against $39,600 average 6-year earnings, the payback is workable but not comfortable, particularly given the 49% completion rate risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-75,000) pay $14,826-$18,260 per year. The $30,001-48,000 bracket nearly matches the lowest income bracket in cost, which is an oddity in the aid formula. For middle-income students targeting nursing specifically, the net price is reasonable; for general-track students, the ROI case is weaker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $21,448 per year - roughly $86,000 over four years. Against $39,600 average 6-year earnings, the full-pay case is financially marginal unless the student pursues nursing or another high-earning program.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at University of Jamestown with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $74,007 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,462 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $65,831 | B |
| Teacher Education | $49,410 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $48,203 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (25 graduates) earns $74,094 at year one and $74,007 at year four - an unusual near-flat trajectory suggesting the Scorecard captures a stable nursing wage band in North Dakota's labor market. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.378 earns a B grade with median debt of $28,000. This is the clearest financial justification for attending Jamestown; nursing graduates enter a tight rural healthcare labor market with immediate placement.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science (17 graduates) earns $65,831 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.410 (ROI grade B). The four-year figure is reasonable for a field that typically routes into physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, or personal training. Students should factor in whether a graduate degree is expected for their target career, as that extends the debt picture.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (18 graduates) earns $47,850 year one and $61,462 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.543 (ROI grade C+). The year-one figure is modest for business in any labor market, and the C+ grade reflects a debt load that is not well-calibrated to earnings.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (13 graduates) earns $49,608 year one and $49,410 at year four - essentially flat earnings over four years, which reflects the constrained public school salary structure in North Dakota. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.544 earns a C+ grade with $27,000 median debt. Teachers who plan to take PSLF or state loan forgiveness programs can offset this; those who don't will find the debt burden persistent.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Jamestown’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.1% |
| Enrollment | 1,041 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,294 |
Jamestown accepts 88.1% of applicants. No test score data is reported. Admission is accessible; completion is the more consequential gate. Students should inquire about retention support and advising programs, since the 49% graduation rate indicates a substantial structural challenge.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Jamestown (this school) | 55 | $19,567 | $56,621 |
| University of Mary | 76 | $17,770 | $60,909 |
| Saint Martin's University | 57 | $28,119 | $62,092 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | 56 | $17,545 | $51,540 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School | 18 | $19,359 | $35,604 |
Who Thrives Here
University of Jamestown fits students who want a small private college in the rural upper Midwest and are specifically targeting nursing or health sciences. The 88.1% acceptance rate makes it accessible, but the 49% completion rate means nearly half of enrollees do not finish. With 1,041 enrolled students, the campus is small and community-oriented. Students who need strong career earnings should focus on the nursing or health sciences programs; general-track business or education graduates face an uphill debt-to-earnings ratio.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Jamestown is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $19,567 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,621 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: its 49.0% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of Jamestown: Common Questions
Is University of Jamestown worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Jamestown scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,567 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,621 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Jamestown cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,567 a year, or roughly $78,268 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Jamestown graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,621 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,821 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Jamestown?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.1 years for University of Jamestown. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Jamestown graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of Jamestown?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.