C+
Above Average
Score: 55/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
43/100 · earnings-weighted

Dickinson State University

4-Year Public
📍 Dickinson, North Dakota 58601
Dickinson State University campus, Dickinson, ND
Dickinson State University campus, Dickinson, ND. Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C+
60/100
Affordability
C
51/100
Resources
C+
61/100
Experience
B
72/100
Prestige
D
35/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,453
Total Enrollment
43%
Graduation Rate
60%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
60%
Acceptance Rate
$15,490
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Dickinson State University ▼

9% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$334,363
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,275
1-Year Change
+7.3%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Dickinson State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$50,720
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$48,628
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$18,442
Median debt at graduation
50.6%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
19
Median ACT
21.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 36% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 39th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (ND wage index 0.93). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Dickinson State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$68,151$81,904-8%#648 of 966#610$25,250
Finance and Financial Management Services—$76,040-9%#242 of 452#233—
Business Administration, Management and Operations$50,830$67,169-2%#476 of 1176#422$19,000
Accounting and Related Services$51,006$66,147-13%#575 of 796#562$20,856
Human Resources Management and Services$50,122$64,488-5%#132 of 187#125$24,676
Agriculture$42,583$52,529-2%#24 of 43#23—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$49,811————$15,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$44,841—————
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies—$42,639-23%#198 of 207#198—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Dickinson State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $334,363
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,275/mo — vs ~$333/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 58601 (3.0% cap, Dickinson)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,470 $9,570
Room $3,000
Board $4,740
Total Cost (On-Campus) $21,558 $23,658

Financial Aid

94%
Receive Any Aid
24%
Receive Pell Grants
60%
Take Out Loans
$15,490
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$11,547
$30,001 - $48,000$11,472
$48,001 - $75,000$13,949
$75,001 - $110,000$17,160
$110,001+$17,040

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Business Administration and Management, General 61 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 32 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 20 grads/yr Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 19 grads/yr Accounting 19 grads/yr Finance, General 18 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 17 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 16 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 16 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 14 grads/yr Agriculture, General 13 grads/yr Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 13 grads/yr Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 12 grads/yr Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other 10 grads/yr Psychology, General 10 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 9 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 9 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 8 grads/yr Secondary Education and Teaching 8 grads/yr Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling 7 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Dickinson State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

1,453
Total Students
58%
Women
69%
Traditional Age (18-24)
9%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 74%
Hispanic 7%
Black 2%
Asian 2%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 76%
Off-Campus (Renters) 9%
With Family 15%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~124 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 37%
Hybrid (Some Online) 36%
Fully Online 27%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 69%
25-64 (Adult) 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University has an acceptance rate of 60%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Dickinson State University?
Tuition at Dickinson State University is $7,470 for in-state students and $9,570 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $15,490.
What is the graduation rate at Dickinson State University?
The graduation rate at Dickinson State University is 43%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Dickinson State University a good school?
Dickinson State University has a Repit College Score of 55/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University has a total enrollment of 1,453 students.
Is there rental demand near Dickinson State University?
Yes! Approximately 9% of students at Dickinson State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 124 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Dickinson State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Dickinson State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Valley City State University
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C+
Mayville State University
Mayville, ND · 1,025 students
C+
Minot State University
Minot, ND · 2,741 students
C+
Bismarck State College
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Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
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Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology