North Dakota State College of Science is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It enrolls 1,909 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 (2-Year). 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
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes69
Value61
Affordability27
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, North Dakota State College of Science generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending North Dakota State College of Science 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 $11,261 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,261
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
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)
$5,974
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,973
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,096
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,096
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,265
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
$7,803
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,297
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,678
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,078
Over $110,000
$14,772
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
$5,50025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$12,42475%percentile
$18,50090%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 $8,250
↓ $3,750
No Pell $8,250
↓ $3,750
Dependent students $7,548
↓ $4,452
Independent students $10,500
↓ $1,500
Female students $8,286
↓ $3,714
Male students $7,873
↓ $4,127
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at North Dakota State College of Science graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Dakota State College of Science earn a median of $50,513 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,513
Earning > $25K
79%
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
$33,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $21,000, about 38% 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 ↑
8.2 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
North Dakota State College of Science is home to 1,909 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,909
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.6%1,539
Black 6.7%128
Other 5.6%107
Hispanic 3.6%68
Asian 0.9%18
International 0.9%17
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Dakota State College of Science. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteWahpeton, North Dakota
Housing
Mostly residential1,125 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
North Dakota State College of Science offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
10 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 North Dakota State College of Science is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,648
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$55M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,180
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
98 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
2
2%
$67,768
Associate Professors
66
67%
$64,978
Assistant Professors
21
21%
$60,514
Instructors
9
9%
$56,698
Pros & Cons of North Dakota State College of Science
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Dakota State College of Science tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
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
Best for:
Based on the data, North Dakota State College of Science is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Dakota State College of Science
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Dakota State College of Science.
Is North Dakota State College of Science hard to get into?
North Dakota State College of Science has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State College of Science?
North Dakota State College of Science has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does North Dakota State College of Science cost?
The average net price after aid at North Dakota State College of Science is $11,261 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Dakota State College of Science worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,513 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,261 per year. That's roughly 4.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Dakota State College of Science known for?
North Dakota State College of Science is best known for its programs in Vehicle Maintenance, Liberal Arts, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Dakota State College of Science graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Dakota State College of Science are $50,513, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Dakota State College of Science accredited?
Yes. North Dakota State College of Science is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend North Dakota State College of Science?
North Dakota State College of Science enrolls 1,909 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Dakota State College of Science?
North Dakota State College of Science graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Dakota State College of Science a public or private college?
North Dakota State College of Science is a Public institution.
Where is North Dakota State College of Science located?
North Dakota State College of Science is located in Wahpeton, North Dakota.
What programs does North Dakota State College of Science offer?
North Dakota State College of Science offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Vehicle Maintenance, Liberal Arts, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Dakota State College of Science?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Dakota State College of Science is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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