Cost of college in North Dakota
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in North Dakota averages $9,907 a year, or $15,449 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $59,597 and owe about $20,870. The net price pays back in about 3.5 years.
How North Dakota compares to the US
North Dakota ranks #28 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #18 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #16 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | North Dakota | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $9,907 | $9,518 | +$389 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $13,657 | $23,652 | -$9,995 |
| Net price after aid | $15,449 | $13,788 | +$1,661 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $59,597 | $56,427 | +$3,170 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,870 | $17,856 | +$3,014 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in North Dakota pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in North Dakota costs about $61,796 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.5 years from the roughly $17,797-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #16 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in North Dakota list about $18,462 in tuition and net out to about $14,846 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in North Dakota?
At a public 4-year college in North Dakota, in-state tuition and fees average about $9,907 a year and out-of-state runs about $13,657. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $15,449. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in North Dakota earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from North Dakota's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $59,597 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,870 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in North Dakota?
A public 4-year degree in North Dakota costs about $61,796 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.5 years from the roughly $17,797-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.