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North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public campus in Fargo proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$10,647

family income
under $30k

$12,429

$30–48k

$14,166

$48–75k

$17,427

$75–110k

$19,218

over $110k

Average net price

$15,5432023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at North Dakota State University-Main Campus rose from $13,474 (2008) to $15,543 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,474
2009	$12,989
2010	$13,808
2011	$15,113
2012	$14,404
2013	$15,069
2014	$15,139
2015	$15,394
2016	$15,265
2017	$16,062
2018	$16,584
2019	$16,998
2020	$17,692
2021	$16,875
2022	$16,334
2023	$15,543

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$23,7162024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at North Dakota State University-Main Campus rose from $15,791 (2009) to $23,716 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$15,791
2010	$16,323
2011	$17,821
2012	$18,552
2013	$18,277
2014	$18,766
2015	$19,198
2016	$19,602
2017	$19,874
2018	$20,733
2019	$21,497
2020	$22,201
2021	$22,482
2022	$22,936
2023	$23,391
2024	$23,716

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2001	$3,272	$7,871
2002	$3,551	$8,401
2003	$3,965	$9,600
2004	$4,733	$11,381
2005	$5,264	$12,545
2006	$5,722	$13,695
2007	$5,985	$14,366
2008	$6,326	$15,025
2013	$7,660	$18,242
2014	$7,940	$18,969
2015	$8,098	$19,392
2016	$8,327	$19,891
2017	$8,666	$20,692
2018	$9,414	$13,393
2019	$9,754	$13,892
2020	$10,168	$14,471
2021	$10,601	$15,076
2022	$10,992	$15,646
2023	$10,857	$15,511

IPEDS Published price 2001–02 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports published tuition by residency: $11,110 in-state versus $15,764 out-of-state — a $4,654 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

North Dakota State University-Main Campus reports 9,471 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

63.9% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at North Dakota State University-Main Campus within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

63.9%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus rose from 45% (entered 1991) to 63.9% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	45%
1992 cohort	38.6%
1993 cohort	47.1%
1994 cohort	48.2%
1995 cohort	44.9%
1996 cohort	47.2%
1997 cohort	52.3%
1998 cohort	51.4%
1999 cohort	53.6%
2000 cohort	49.8%
2001 cohort	46.8%
2002 cohort	49.3%
2003 cohort	52%
2004 cohort	50.6%
2005 cohort	53.7%
2006 cohort	52.8%
2007 cohort	53.1%
2008 cohort	56.1%
2009 cohort	53.9%
2010 cohort	55.5%
2011 cohort	58%
2012 cohort	57.6%
2013 cohort	60.3%
2014 cohort	62.3%
2015 cohort	64.9%
2016 cohort	63.2%
2017 cohort	63.7%
2018 cohort	63.9%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$12,590	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,120	$4,058
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,000	$4,174
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$14,500	$4,332
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$14,748	$3,937
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$15,306	$3,276
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,336	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$16,535	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,011	$3,355
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,000	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$3,928
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$18,870	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$20,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$22,125	$6,298
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$23,821	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$24,087	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$23,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$23,250	$6,979
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$22,567	$7,300
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$22,652	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,250	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,000	$6,812
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,199	$6,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$54,312

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$57,779

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$62,203

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

North Dakota State University-Main Campus admitted 6,864 of 7,228 applicants in Fall 2024. The 95% rate describes that application pool.

95%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $10,857 in-state tuition · 2023–24 9,471 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

North Dakota State University-Main Campus: scores were considered but optional in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
ACT Composite	19	23	25

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, North Dakota State University-Main Campus received 7,228 applications and admitted 6,864 (95%), with 2,197 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

95%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	66.2%
Fall 2002	60.2%
Fall 2003	97.2%
Fall 2004	96.5%
Fall 2005	88.3%
Fall 2006	89%
Fall 2007	84.9%
Fall 2008	80%
Fall 2009	79.2%
Fall 2010	76.9%
Fall 2011	86%
Fall 2012	83.5%
Fall 2013	84.1%
Fall 2014	82.7%
Fall 2015	93.6%
Fall 2016	92.8%
Fall 2017	91.6%
Fall 2018	92.5%
Fall 2019	93.6%
Fall 2020	94.1%
Fall 2021	95.5%
Fall 2022	95.7%
Fall 2023	95.8%
Fall 2024	95%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

968–1216Fall 2022 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	970	1240
Fall 2004	1040	1290
Fall 2005	1040	1260
Fall 2006	970	1280
Fall 2007	950	1240
Fall 2008	990	1330
Fall 2009	960	1260
Fall 2010	930	1230
Fall 2011	990	1260
Fall 2012	970	1230
Fall 2013	980	1275
Fall 2014	975	1310
Fall 2015	980	1260
Fall 2016	1000	1290
Fall 2017	1060	1328
Fall 2018	1083	1275
Fall 2019	1040	1265
Fall 2020	1028	1243
Fall 2021	1096	1313
Fall 2022	968	1216

IPEDS Fall 2002–2022, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–25Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	20	26
Fall 2002	19	26
Fall 2003	20	26
Fall 2004	20	26
Fall 2005	20	26
Fall 2006	20	25
Fall 2007	20	26
Fall 2008	20	25
Fall 2009	20	26
Fall 2010	21	26
Fall 2011	21	26
Fall 2012	20	26
Fall 2013	21	26
Fall 2014	21	26
Fall 2015	21	26
Fall 2016	21	26
Fall 2017	21	26
Fall 2018	21	26
Fall 2019	21	26
Fall 2020	20	26
Fall 2021	20	26
Fall 2022	19	25
Fall 2023	19	24
Fall 2024	19	25

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

9,471Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at North Dakota State University-Main Campus has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 11,763 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 9,471.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	9,874
Fall 2003	10,157
Fall 2004	10,549
Fall 2005	10,153
Fall 2006	10,255
Fall 2007	10,187
Fall 2008	10,801
Fall 2009	11,391
Fall 2010	11,630
Fall 2011	11,610
Fall 2012	11,684
Fall 2013	11,629
Fall 2014	11,763
Fall 2015	11,719
Fall 2016	11,683
Fall 2017	11,687
Fall 2018	11,182
Fall 2019	10,579
Fall 2020	10,311
Fall 2021	9,932
Fall 2022	9,795
Fall 2023	9,567
Fall 2024	9,471

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

78%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at North Dakota State University-Main Campus has held near 78% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	79%
Fall 2003 cohort	80%
Fall 2004 cohort	81%
Fall 2005 cohort	78%
Fall 2006 cohort	82%
Fall 2007 cohort	81%
Fall 2008 cohort	78%
Fall 2009 cohort	78%
Fall 2010 cohort	76%
Fall 2011 cohort	80%
Fall 2012 cohort	78%
Fall 2013 cohort	80%
Fall 2014 cohort	78%
Fall 2015 cohort	80%
Fall 2016 cohort	79%
Fall 2017 cohort	79%
Fall 2018 cohort	79%
Fall 2019 cohort	82%
Fall 2020 cohort	76%
Fall 2021 cohort	75%
Fall 2022 cohort	77%
Fall 2023 cohort	78%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Faculty pay at North Dakota State University-Main Campus averages $127,488 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes North Dakota State University-Main Campus as a primarily residential campus of 9,471 undergraduates — and 78.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Incoming students who submitted scores typically landed between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on North Dakota State University-Main Campus's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How North Dakota State University-Main Campus compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

North Dakota State University-Main Campus95%

North Dakota median76.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

North Dakota State University-Main Campus$11,110

North Dakota median$10,951

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

North Dakota State University-Main Campus's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

North Dakota State University-Main Campus$62,203

North Dakota median$52,725

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

North Dakota State University-Main Campus, North Dakota and national reference values
Metric & basis	North Dakota State University-Main Campus	North Dakota median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	95%	76.1%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$11,110	$10,951	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$62,203	$52,725	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For North Dakota State University-Main Campus, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

North Dakota State University-Main Campus federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 48 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration	$125,175
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	$95,019
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$94,510
Computer Engineering	$92,878
Mechanical Engineering	$87,702
Computer Science	$87,562
Agricultural Engineering	$84,529
Industrial Engineering	$84,016
Civil Engineering	$83,992
Agricultural Production Operations	$83,779
Finance and Financial Management Services	$80,522
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$77,589
Agricultural Business and Management	$77,296
Management Information Systems and Services	$76,527
Accounting and Related Services	$74,888
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$73,935
Marketing	$71,027
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$67,405
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	$65,292
Architecture	$65,148
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	$64,014
Homeland Security	$62,649
Agriculture, General	$62,285
Business/Corporate Communications	$62,181
Agricultural Mechanization	$58,690
Biology, General	$58,662
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$58,252
Design and Applied Arts	$57,663
Apparel and Textiles	$56,197
Sociology	$56,040
Environmental Design	$55,647
Psychology, General	$54,784
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$54,656
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	$54,301
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	$53,907
Political Science and Government	$52,834
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy	$52,570
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$52,339
Hospitality Administration/Management	$51,277
Animal Sciences	$50,975
Zoology/Animal Biology	$50,701
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$50,052
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$48,986
Fine and Studio Arts	$46,117
Music	$45,578
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians	$44,457
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services	$42,973
English Language and Literature, General	$40,460

These 48 fields listed for North Dakota State University-Main Campus measure earnings after completion. The $62,203 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 34 additional North Dakota State University-Main Campus fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does North Dakota State University-Main Campus report?

The middle 50% of North Dakota State University-Main Campus's enrolled Fall 2024 submitters reported ACT composites of 19–25; this dataset does not provide a GPA requirement.

What is North Dakota State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?

95% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 6,864 admitted from 7,228 applicants.

How much does North Dakota State University-Main Campus cost?

In-state tuition is $11,110; out-of-state students pay $15,764. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does North Dakota State University-Main Campus report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $62,203. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Dakota

University of Jamestown — 88.1% admitted
Valley City State University — 99.1% admitted
University of North Dakota — 76.9% admitted
Minot State University — 64.6% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.