Williston State College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Williston, North Dakota. It enrolls 651 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 (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
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes43
Value85
Affordability46
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Williston State College 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 Williston 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 $5,932 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,932
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
14%
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
$6,128
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,204
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,334
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,651
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
$4,454
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,213
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,026
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,187
Over $110,000
$8,854
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,12125%percentile
$10,099Medianpercentile
$10,45275%percentile
$16,09990%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 $7,624
↓ $2,475
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,599
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,599
Independent students $9,500
↓ $599
Female students $7,491
↓ $2,608
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,599
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,099), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
35% of full-time students who enrolled at Williston State College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Williston State College earn a median of $44,017 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,017
Earning > $25K
66%
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
$34,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$69,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $35,500, about 51% 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.
Stable ↑
2.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Williston State College is home to 651 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
651
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.7%369
Hispanic 13.8%90
Other 11.1%72
International 10.5%68
Black 4.6%30
Asian 2.5%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Williston State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteWilliston, North Dakota
Housing
Partly residential196 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Williston State College offers
a varied set of programs:
16 distinct programs across
9 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 Williston State College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,548
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$25M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,728
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
30 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
6
20%
$79,399
Associate Professors
10
33%
$74,692
Assistant Professors
5
17%
$60,699
Instructors
9
30%
$53,488
Pros & Cons of Williston State College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Williston State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Williston State College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Williston State College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Williston State College.
Is Williston State College hard to get into?
Williston State College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Williston State College?
Williston State College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Williston State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Williston State College is $5,932 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Williston State College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,017 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,932 per year. That's roughly 7.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Williston State College known for?
Williston State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Williston State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Williston State College are $44,017, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Williston State College accredited?
Yes. Williston State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Williston State College?
Williston State College enrolls 651 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Williston State College?
Williston State College graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Williston State College a public or private college?
Williston State College is a Public institution.
Where is Williston State College located?
Williston State College is located in Williston, North Dakota.
What programs does Williston State College offer?
Williston State College offers 16 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Williston State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Williston State College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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