University of North Dakota is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It enrolls 9,981 students (a large 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.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes65
Value73
Affordability35
Selectivity45
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.9%, University of North Dakota is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.9%
Easy
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 University of North Dakota is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of North Dakota 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 $18,551 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,551
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
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)
$10,951
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$15,570
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,390
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,390
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,446
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,446
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,605
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
$13,126
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,251
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,206
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,981
Over $110,000
$20,730
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.
$3,82510%percentile
$7,15525%percentile
$22,057Medianpercentile
$27,27175%percentile
$33,80090%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 $17,996
↓ $4,061
No Pell $13,908
↓ $8,149
Dependent students $15,750
↓ $6,307
Independent students $12,766
↓ $9,291
Female students $16,075
↓ $5,982
Male students $14,508
↓ $7,549
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,332, less than completers ($22,057), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at University of North Dakota graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of North Dakota earn a median of $63,552 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,552
Earning > $25K
87%
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
$47,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$66,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$62,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,800, about 28% 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. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of North Dakota is home to 9,981 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
9,981
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.1%7,798
Hispanic 6.0%601
Other 5.6%563
International 3.6%363
Black 2.8%278
Asian 2.4%240
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of North Dakota. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityGrand Forks, North Dakota
Housing
Partly residential2,986 beds available
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of North Dakota offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
153 distinct programs across
26 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 University of North Dakota is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$21,012
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$362M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$89,636
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
670 instructional faculty across 6 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
168
25%
$121,721
Associate Professors
175
26%
$95,426
Assistant Professors
225
34%
$82,423
Instructors
79
12%
$58,815
Lecturers
20
3%
$74,031
No Rank
3
0%
$44,122
Pros & Cons of University of North Dakota
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of North Dakota tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of North Dakota is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of North Dakota
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of North Dakota.
Is University of North Dakota hard to get into?
University of North Dakota has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Dakota?
University of North Dakota has an acceptance rate of 76.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of North Dakota cost?
The average net price after aid at University of North Dakota is $18,551 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of North Dakota worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,552 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,551 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of North Dakota known for?
University of North Dakota is best known for its programs in Air Transportation, Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of North Dakota graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of North Dakota are $63,552, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of North Dakota accredited?
Yes. University of North Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of North Dakota?
University of North Dakota enrolls 9,981 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Dakota?
University of North Dakota graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of North Dakota a public or private college?
University of North Dakota is a Public institution.
Where is University of North Dakota located?
University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
What programs does University of North Dakota offer?
University of North Dakota offers 153 distinct programs. The most popular include Air Transportation, Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Dakota?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Dakota is 17:1, 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.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Highest-Earning Transportation Colleges
The highest-earning colleges for Transportation, ranked by graduate salary 10 years after entry.
$95,951 Top Earn
$57,445 Avg Earn
87 UCD Score
93 Colleges
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