University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota · Public · 76.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
The University of North Dakota scores 77 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, with solid earnings outcomes driven primarily by its engineering, nursing, and aviation programs. Median 6-year earnings are $45,400 -- a 38.5% premium above the no-college benchmark -- and the payback period of 7.5 years is reasonable for a broad public university. In-state tuition of $10,951 and a net price of $18,551 make the headline cost accessible. Total 4-year net cost is $74,204. The completion rate of 60.5% is the clearest area of concern and drags the overall score below what the earnings and cost data alone would suggest. The repayment rate of 88.4% is the strongest sub-score and indicates that graduates who do finish their degrees manage their $22,057 median debt effectively. Engineering programs dominate the upper tier of outcomes: Electrical Engineering ($78,285 year-one, $106,162 year-four, B+ grade), Mechanical Engineering ($73,603 year-one, $89,704 year-four, B grade), and Chemical Engineering ($73,112 year-one, $87,309 year-four, B grade) all post strong numbers. Registered Nursing (118 graduates) at $73,097 year-one is UND's highest-volume high-earnings program. Air Transportation (337 graduates) posts $46,193 year-one but a striking $104,472 at year four, reflecting the long career build in commercial aviation -- the largest program by graduate count.
University of North Dakota scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of North Dakota
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,951/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,570/yr |
| Average net price | $18,551/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,204 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,552 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,057 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $234 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,981 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of North Dakota is $10,951/year ($15,570/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,551/year, or roughly $74,204 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,126/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,730/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,057 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $234 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $63,552 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.49 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $13,126 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,251 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,206 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,981 |
| $110,001+ | $20,730 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $13,126 net price per year at UND; the 30001-48000 bracket drops to $12,251. At $12,251-$13,126 per year, the four-year net cost runs approximately $49,000-$53,000 -- a low entry price for a university with $45,400 median earnings and strong engineering and nursing programs that clear $73,000 year-one. Low-income students who complete their degree and enter one of UND's high-earning programs achieve some of the best financial mobility ratios in the Scorecard data. The completion rate of 60.5% is the primary risk: students should enter with realistic plans to persist to graduation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the 48001-75000 bracket pay $15,206 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket climbs to $18,981. Four-year net costs in these brackets run roughly $61,000-$76,000. Against median earnings of $45,400 at six years and a 7.5-year payback, the financial case is solid -- particularly for students entering engineering, nursing, or aviation programs where year-one earnings are well above the institutional median. The in-state tuition of $10,951 substantially reduces cost for resident families in these brackets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Full-pay families (110000+) pay $20,730 net price per year at UND, or roughly $83,000 over four years. At that cost, UND is competitively priced relative to private regional universities, and the engineering and nursing program outcomes compare favorably to more expensive alternatives. High-income families choosing between UND and higher-cost private options should note that the difference in sticker price rarely translates to meaningfully better earnings outcomes in equivalent technical fields. UND's location in Grand Forks will appeal to families with regional ties; students intent on coastal markets will face a geographic premium that the Scorecard data does not fully capture.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of North Dakota with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation | $104,472 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $79,624 | B |
| Psychology | $55,333 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $71,538 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,932 | B |
| Marketing | $64,912 | C+ |
| Biology | $50,191 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,704 | B |
| Social Work | $56,001 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,251 | C+ |
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.
Air Transportation
Air Transportation is UND's largest program by graduate count (337 graduates) and tells a delayed-return story: $46,193 year-one earnings climb to $104,472 at year four, with a C+ ROI grade and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.493. Median debt is $22,769. The year-one figure reflects entry-level regional airline wages; the year-four jump to $104,000 reflects career progression once pilots accumulate hours and move to major carriers. Students who understand the aviation career trajectory -- low initial earnings, high long-run ceiling -- will find this program's four-year figure compelling. It requires patience and path conviction.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (38 graduates) is UND's top ROI program: $78,285 year-one earnings, $106,162 at year four, B+ grade, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.345. Median debt is $27,000. EE graduates enter energy, utilities, defense, and manufacturing sectors with strong starting wages. The year-four figure crossing $100,000 places UND electrical engineers in the top tier of outcomes for a public university in the northern plains. This program benefits from proximity to North Dakota's energy infrastructure and regional utilities hiring pipelines.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (118 graduates) is UND's highest-volume high-earnings program: $73,097 year-one earnings, $79,624 at year four, B-grade ROI with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.353. Median debt is $25,792. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four reflects the structured wage scales of healthcare, not stagnation. Nursing at UND provides an accessible pathway into a regionally scarce profession -- North Dakota's healthcare workforce demand is above national averages -- and graduates typically see strong regional employment rates.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (65 graduates) earns $73,603 year-one and $89,704 year-four, B-grade ROI, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.367 and median debt of $27,000. Mechanical engineers from UND enter oil and gas equipment, manufacturing, and agricultural machinery sectors, reflecting North Dakota's energy and industrial economy. Year-one wages are competitive with comparable public engineering programs, and the $89,704 four-year figure reflects steady career progression in regional industrial employers.
Accounting
Accounting (50 graduates) earns $61,280 year-one and $82,187 at year four, B-grade ROI, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.404 and median debt of $24,780. Accounting is UND's strongest business program by measured ROI. Year-one earnings reflect entry-level public accounting and corporate roles, with the four-year trajectory showing meaningful progression toward senior staff and manager-level positions. UND accounting graduates are competitive in the regional market of the northern plains, and CPA certification typically accelerates earnings beyond the year-four figure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.9% |
| Enrollment | 9,981 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,049 |
At 76.9%, UND operates as a broadly accessible regional university -- the application process is not a significant barrier to entry. No test score ranges are reported in the Scorecard. The net price for the lowest income bracket ($13,126) is among the more accessible in this tier of public universities, and the 30001-48000 bracket drops further to $12,251. North Dakota residents benefit from in-state tuition of $10,951; out-of-state students pay $15,570 but can still achieve strong ROI in programs like engineering and nursing where year-one earnings clear $73,000.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UND's peer schools include University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Colorado Denver, Mayville State University, and Dickinson State University. Among these, UMass Lowell is the strongest comparison -- both are public universities with significant engineering enrollments and regional labor market focus. UMass Lowell typically produces higher median earnings reflecting the Boston metro wage premium. UW-La Crosse is a closer peer in scale and program breadth. UND's ROI score of 77 (Strong Value) positions it above average for a broad public regional university, with the aviation and engineering programs doing much of the earnings heavy lifting in the aggregate figure.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Dakota (this school) | 77 | $18,551 | $63,552 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 76 | $17,163 | $64,874 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 76 | $16,210 | $60,378 |
| Dickinson State University | 62 | $14,092 | $50,720 |
| Mayville State University | 52 | $11,456 | $47,828 |
Who Thrives Here
UND admits 76.9% of applicants and enrolls 9,981 undergraduates. No SAT or ACT data is reported in the Scorecard. Pell grant rate of 17.2% is below average for a public university, suggesting a student body that skews somewhat higher income relative to flagship peers. UND offers a broad curriculum but is particularly strong in aviation, engineering, nursing, and energy-sector fields that align with regional North Dakota and Midwest labor markets. Aviation is UND's largest single pipeline by graduate volume. Students drawn to energy, aerospace, or health careers will find strong specialized programs here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
University of North Dakota delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $18,551 per year ($74,204 over four years), graduates earn a median of $63,552 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 7.5 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,057 against $63,552 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.