Dickinson State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Dickinson, North Dakota. It enrolls 1,090 students (a small, tight-knit 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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes24
Value77
Affordability50
Selectivity49
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 37%, Dickinson State University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
37%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dickinson State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
39.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dickinson State University 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 $14,092 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,092
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
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
$9,118
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,564
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,564
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,770
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,770
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,567
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
$10,479
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,094
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,985
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,484
Over $110,000
$16,922
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,25025%percentile
$18,442Medianpercentile
$19,00075%percentile
$27,80090%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 $12,744
↓ $5,698
No Pell $10,842
↓ $7,600
Dependent students $10,684
↓ $7,758
Independent students $14,250
↓ $4,192
Female students $12,197
↓ $6,245
Male students $10,385
↓ $8,057
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,550, less than completers ($18,442), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Dickinson State University graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dickinson State University earn a median of $50,720 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,720
Earning > $25K
76%
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
$36,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $29,100, about 44% 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 ↑
8.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dickinson State University is home to 1,090 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,090
Part-Time
17%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.7%836
Other 9.2%100
Hispanic 6.5%71
Black 2.8%30
International 2.0%22
Asian 1.4%15
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dickinson State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteDickinson, North Dakota
Housing
Partly residential383 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Dickinson State University offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
17 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 Dickinson State University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,458
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$19M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,050
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
58 instructional faculty across 4 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
10
17%
$91,035
Associate Professors
10
17%
$70,128
Assistant Professors
31
53%
$60,699
Instructors
7
12%
$48,228
Pros & Cons of Dickinson State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dickinson State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Dickinson State University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dickinson State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dickinson State University.
Is Dickinson State University hard to get into?
Dickinson State University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 37%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University has an acceptance rate of 37%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Dickinson State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Dickinson State University is $14,092 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dickinson State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,720 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,092 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dickinson State University known for?
Dickinson State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Human Resources, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dickinson State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dickinson State University are $50,720, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dickinson State University accredited?
Yes. Dickinson State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University enrolls 1,090 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dickinson State University a public or private college?
Dickinson State University is a Public institution.
Where is Dickinson State University located?
Dickinson State University is located in Dickinson, North Dakota.
What programs does Dickinson State University offer?
Dickinson State University offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Human Resources, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dickinson State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dickinson State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Dakota
Other colleges in North Dakota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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