Best College ROI in Nd 2026
15 colleges in Nd analyzed for return on investment. Bismarck State College leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Nd has 15 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 9 public institutions and 6 private ones. Across the 15 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $80K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
93% of Nd colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Bismarck State College (median $95K on Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Nd
Bismarck State College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Nd's ROI rankings on its Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $20K in median debt.
Valley City State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Dickinson State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 15 Colleges by ROI in Nd
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck State College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Valley City State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Dickinson State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 4 | Minot State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | University of Jamestown(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Mayville State University(public) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 8 | University of North Dakota(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $23K | $92K | A (85) |
| 9 | University of Mary(private) | Mechanical Engineering | $25K | $92K | A (84) |
| 10 | Sitting Bull College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 11 | Trinity Bible College and Graduate School(private) | International Business | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 12 | United Tribes Technical College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 13 | Turtle Mountain Community College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (78) |
| 14 | Rasmussen University-North Dakota(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $37K | $62K | B (74) |
| 15 | Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College(public) | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $24K | $45K | C (62) |
College debt and earnings data for Nd is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bismarck State College has the best ROI in Nd with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $20K in median debt.
Across 15 Nd colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $80K.
Bismarck State College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Nd has 15 colleges in our database (9 public, 6 private). Of the 15 with reportable ROI, 93% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).