University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota · Public · 76.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
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. Average 6-year earnings are $45,400. 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 16% of the schools we score, 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,951/year ($15,570/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,551/year, or roughly $74,204 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 $13,126/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,730/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,057, which works out to about $234 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,400) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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. 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 average 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. 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 crosses $100,000 for UND electrical engineers. 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.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of North Dakota’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 | 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 is $13,126 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.
| 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. 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
For most students, University of North Dakota pays off. You'd pay about $18,551 a year after aid ($74,204 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,552 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,057 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of North Dakota: Common Questions
Is University of North Dakota worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of North Dakota pays off. It scores 77/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,551 a year after aid ($74,204 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,552 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.5 years to earn back.
How much does University of North Dakota 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 $18,551 a year, or roughly $74,204 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 North Dakota graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,552 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,752 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 North Dakota?
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 7.5 years for University of North Dakota. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of North Dakota graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,057, against average earnings of $45,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Dakota?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.5%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is 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.