Public Bachelor's Strong 77/100

Bismarck State College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Bismarck, North Dakota

About Bismarck State College

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.

Acceptance
Graduation
41.9%
Net Price
$10,270
Median Earnings (10yr)
$54,277
Enrollment
2,839
Student : Faculty
13:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

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
Outcomes 70
Value 79
Affordability 37
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.

$2,476
10% percentile
$3,850
25% percentile
$11,533
Median percentile
$12,000
75% percentile
$18,911
90% 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
Pell recipients: 18.8% (2,167 students)No Pell: 12.8% (1,477 students)Dependent students: 12.8% (1,477 students)Independent students: 24.4% (2,820 students)Female students: 15.7% (1,813 students)Male students: 15.4% (1,780 students)Overall Median$11,533
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.

$50,000$51,000$52,000$54,000$55,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
81%1yr85.1%3yr90.8%5yr89%7yr
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
White: 80.4% (2,281 students)Other: 7.3% (208 students)Hispanic: 4.1% (116 students)Black: 3.8% (107 students)Asian: 1.4% (41 students)International: 1.4% (40 students)Total2,839

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 City Bismarck, North Dakota
Housing
Partly residential 438 beds available
Adult Learners
26% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling 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.

Faculty & Resources

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.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.