Bismarck State College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Bismarck, North Dakota. It enrolls 2,839 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes70
Value79
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Bismarck State College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bismarck State College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,270 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,270
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,247
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,331
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,273
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,000
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,771
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,140
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,828
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,524
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,160
Over $110,000
$13,979
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,47610%percentile
$3,85025%percentile
$11,533Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$18,91190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,068
↓ $3,465
No Pell $5,500
↓ $6,033
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $6,033
Independent students $10,500
↓ $1,033
Female students $6,750
↓ $4,783
Male students $6,630
↓ $4,903
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,533), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Bismarck State College graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bismarck State College earn a median of $54,277 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,277
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $27,200, about 41% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bismarck State College is home to 2,839 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,839
Part-Time
28%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.4%2,281
Other 7.3%208
Hispanic 4.1%116
Black 3.8%107
Asian 1.4%41
International 1.4%40
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bismarck State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityBismarck, North Dakota
Housing
Partly residential438 beds available
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bismarck State College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bismarck State College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,161
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$26M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,442
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
92 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
6
7%
$86,829
Associate Professors
52
57%
$68,648
Assistant Professors
34
37%
$52,997
Pros & Cons of Bismarck State College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bismarck State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Frequently Asked Questions about Bismarck State College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bismarck State College.
How much does Bismarck State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Bismarck State College is $10,270 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bismarck State College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,277 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,270 per year. That's roughly 5.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bismarck State College known for?
Bismarck State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Industrial Production Tech. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bismarck State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bismarck State College are $54,277, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bismarck State College accredited?
Yes. Bismarck State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College enrolls 2,839 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bismarck State College a public or private college?
Bismarck State College is a Public institution.
Where is Bismarck State College located?
Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota.
What programs does Bismarck State College offer?
Bismarck State College offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Industrial Production Tech.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bismarck State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bismarck State College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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