Value signal
Lower net price
After typical aid, families pay below the national average.
This school$15.5k
National avg$18.5k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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University public Verified data
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, ND
North Dakota State University-Main Campus at a glance
North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota with 11,952 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 95% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $11,110 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $15,543 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 64% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 52% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $23,199 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Pharmacy, professional-degree ($135,133) and Construction Engineering Technology/Technician, bachelor's ($95,019) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$11,110
2024-25
Acceptance
95%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
11,952
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$11,110
Out-of-State Tuition
$15,764
Avg On-Campus Living
$9,928
Avg Off-Campus Living
$9,928
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $21,038
Net price (after aid): $15,543
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $9,370
$30k – $48k: $11,343
$48k – $75k: $11,923
$75k – $110k: $16,082
$110k+: $18,856
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $62,203
Median debt at graduation: $23,199
Est. monthly loan payment: $246
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.7×Graduates earn about 2.7× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 20%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 52%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedNorth Dakota State University-Main Campus does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $71,373, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
64%
Freshman Retention
78%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Out-of-state value
$15.8k below avg
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Strong post-grad earnings
$62.2k above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$11.1k
Out-of-state
$15.8k
below avg
Net price
$15.5k
below avg
Pell
20%
Median debt
$23.2k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$62.2k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
95%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
19 - 25
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Fargo, ND 58108
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 869 of North Dakota State University-Main Campus's 11,952 students (7%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 6,069 (51%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
North Dakota State University-Main Campus reported conferring credentials in 101 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if North Dakota State University-Main Campus caught your interest.
University of North Dakota
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Tuition $10,951 77% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND
Tuition $9,118 37% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.Mayville State University
Mayville, ND
Tuition $7,979 Open admissionSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.Valley City State University
Valley City, ND
Tuition $8,514 99% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Similar acceptance.Minot State University
Minot, ND
Tuition $8,702 65% acceptSame state. Lower-cost option. Same school type.Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN
Tuition $9,572 88% acceptSimilar tuition. Similar acceptance. Similar size.
Graduate earnings by program
What North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates earn, by program
North Dakota State University-Main Campus's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $73,935 four years after graduating, 17% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $70,821; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $24,250 in federal loans at this college (about $257 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $30,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
64 programs at North Dakota State University-Main Campus have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $73,935 | $88,910, −17% | $24,250 | $257/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $67,405 | $68,257, about the same | $22,500 | $239/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's | $87,702 | $92,135, −5% | $26,097 | $277/mo |
| Human Development and Family Studies, Bachelor's | $50,052 | $48,568, +3% | $22,775 | $241/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $54,784 | $50,706, +8% | $22,736 | $241/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $58,662 | $57,214, +3% | $21,784 | $231/mo |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $87,562 | $107,009, −18% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Finance, Bachelor's | $80,522 | $83,343, −3% | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor's | $53,907 | $55,693, −3% | $17,815 | $189/mo |
| Pharmacy, Professional degree | $135,133 | $138,348, about the same | $79,304 | $902/mo |
| Civil Engineering, Bachelor's | $83,992 | $86,517, −3% | $22,250 | $236/mo |
| Teacher Education (by subject), Bachelor's | $52,339 | $51,389, about the same | $24,791 | $263/mo |
Compare what Nursing (RN) pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $80,730 in North Dakota.
- Mechanical Engineering graduates train as mechanical engineers: median $86,330 in North Dakota.
- Pharmacy graduates train as pharmacists: median $142,040 in North Dakota.
- Civil Engineering graduates train as civil engineers: median $98,190 in North Dakota.
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $110,810 in North Dakota.
- Accounting graduates train as accountants and auditors: median $75,730 in North Dakota.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 52 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing, Bachelor's | $71,027 | $69,303, about the same | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $94,510 | $100,647, −6% | $21,050 | $223/mo |
| Architecture, Bachelor's | $65,148 | $66,914, −3% | $26,875 | $285/mo |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's | $48,986 | $54,562, −10% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Pharmacy, Bachelor's | $125,175 | $116,539, +7% | $18,481 | $196/mo |
| Architecture, Master's | $66,004 | $74,139, −11% | $20,293 | $231/mo |
| Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Bachelor's | $77,589 | $70,786, +10% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Criminal Justice, Bachelor's | $58,252 | $55,378, +5% | $21,125 | $224/mo |
| Animal Sciences, Bachelor's | $50,975 | $49,634, +3% | $21,439 | $227/mo |
| Agricultural Business and Management, Bachelor's | $77,296 | $66,647, +16% | $17,875 | $190/mo |
| Accounting, Bachelor's | $74,888 | $76,194, about the same | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician, Bachelor's | $95,019 | $93,843, about the same | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Bachelor's | $83,779 | $53,588, +56% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $63,602 | $71,685, −11% | $18,865 | $215/mo |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Master's | — | $66,523 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Master's | $91,876 | $103,485, −11% | — | — |
| Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's | $54,656 | $63,560, −14% | $21,968 | $233/mo |
| Industrial Engineering, Bachelor's | $84,016 | $98,442, −15% | $25,625 | $272/mo |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $44,457 | $44,115, about the same | $21,378 | $227/mo |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $92,878 | $109,015, −15% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Bachelor's | $52,570 | $56,185, −6% | $25,125 | $266/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $52,834 | $63,293, −17% | $20,342 | $216/mo |
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $57,663 | $51,490, +12% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Management Information Systems, Bachelor's | $76,527 | $83,290, −8% | $22,875 | $243/mo |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Bachelor's | $64,014 | $62,582, about the same | $24,520 | $260/mo |
| Homeland Security, Bachelor's | $62,649 | $70,193, −11% | $27,000 | $286/mo |
| Music, Bachelor's | $45,578 | $42,892, +6% | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications, Bachelor's | $62,181 | $65,784, −5% | $25,250 | $268/mo |
| Agricultural Engineering, Bachelor's | $84,529 | $84,624, about the same | — | — |
| Nursing (RN), Doctoral | $119,874 | $138,131, −13% | $46,124 | $525/mo |
| Student Counseling, Master's | $56,299 | $60,111, −6% | $38,791 | $441/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | — | $50,680 | $26,748 | $284/mo |
| Public Health, Master's | — | $82,751 | $24,880 | $283/mo |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations, Undergraduate certificate | $81,273 | $52,001, +56% | $24,095 | $255/mo |
| Apparel and Textiles, Bachelor's | $56,197 | $57,640, −3% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Biochemistry, Bachelor's | — | $65,466 | $24,384 | $259/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $46,117 | $41,367, +11% | — | — |
| Accounting, Master's | — | $95,833 | — | — |
| Agriculture, Bachelor's | $62,285 | $53,676, +16% | $18,086 | $192/mo |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Master's | $67,825 | $72,563, −7% | — | — |
| English, Bachelor's | $40,460 | $48,590, −17% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $56,040 | $52,657, +6% | $23,324 | $247/mo |
| Environmental Design, Bachelor's | $55,647 | $57,461, −3% | — | — |
| Clinical Laboratory Science, Bachelor's | $65,292 | $75,975, −14% | $31,000 | $329/mo |
| Hospitality Management, Bachelor's | $51,277 | $56,726, −10% | — | — |
| Allied Health (diagnostic and treatment), Master's | $57,720 | $127,347, −55% | — | — |
| Plant Sciences, Bachelor's | — | $56,567 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Bachelor's | $54,301 | $55,753, −3% | $26,625 | $282/mo |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services, Bachelor's | $42,973 | $40,334, +7% | — | — |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's | $59,153 | $59,916, about the same | — | — |
| Agricultural Mechanization, Bachelor's | $58,690 | $71,278, −18% | — | — |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Bachelor's | $50,701 | $44,055, +15% | $23,808 | $252/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is North Dakota State University-Main Campus located?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus is located in Fargo, ND, in the United States.
- What type of institution is North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public university based in ND. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is approximately 95% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus's published in-state tuition is approximately $11,110 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports total enrollment of approximately 11,952 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does North Dakota State University-Main Campus actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is approximately $15,543 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,370 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $18,856. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports a graduation rate of approximately 64% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of North Dakota State University-Main Campus have?
- Students who borrowed at North Dakota State University-Main Campus left with a median of approximately $23,199 in federal loans, and about 52% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $62,203 for students who received federal financial aid at North Dakota State University-Main Campus. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with North Dakota State University-Main Campus.
- How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $73,935 four years after graduating, 17% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $70,821; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $24,250 in federal loans at this college (about $257 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $30,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level). For context, registered nurses in North Dakota are paid a median $80,730 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn?
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $67,405 four years after graduating, about the same as the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,105; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $22,500 in federal loans at this college (about $239 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at North Dakota State University-Main Campus have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 33 programs at North Dakota State University-Main Campus with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Pharmacy, professional-degree ($135,133); Pharmacy, bachelor's ($125,175); and Construction Engineering Technology/Technician, bachelor's ($95,019) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does North Dakota State University-Main Campus get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, North Dakota State University-Main Campus's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $71,373, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 101 fields North Dakota State University-Main Campus reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 248 | Graduate (46 graduate · 194 bachelor's · 8 certificate) |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 204 | Graduate (13 graduate · 191 bachelor's) |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 159 | Bachelor's (98 bachelor's · 61 certificate) |
| Psychology, General | 143 | Graduate (6 graduate · 137 bachelor's) |
| Mechanical Engineering | 133 | Graduate (14 graduate · 119 bachelor's) |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 129 | Graduate (3 graduate · 126 bachelor's) |
| Computer Science | 121 | Graduate (26 graduate · 94 bachelor's · 1 certificate) |
| Biology, General | 110 | Graduate (1 graduate · 109 bachelor's) |
| Architecture | 109 | Graduate (49 graduate · 60 bachelor's) |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 105 | Graduate (57 graduate · 48 bachelor's) |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 90 | Graduate (11 graduate · 78 bachelor's · 1 certificate) |
| Marketing | 72 | Graduate (5 graduate · 67 bachelor's) |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 61 | Graduate (10 graduate · 51 bachelor's) |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 60 | Graduate (4 graduate · 56 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in North Dakota. North Dakota college costs by family income. Student debt at North Dakota colleges. Computer science major guide. Business in North Dakota. Nursing in North Dakota. Psychology in North Dakota. Engineering major guide.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with North Dakota State University-Main Campus before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of North Dakota State University-Main Campus are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). North Dakota State University-Main Campus, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus
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