C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
4-Year
Public
📍 Fargo, North Dakota 58108
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
11,952
Total Enrollment
64%
Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
96%
Acceptance Rate
$16,461
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at North Dakota State University-Main Campus, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$62,203
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$54,312
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$23,199
Median debt at graduation
63.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,150
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
19.7%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 37% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 77th 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 North Dakota State University-Main Campus
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.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | — | $125,175 | +7% | #8 of 29 | #7 | $18,481 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $74,199 | $95,019 | +1% | #16 of 43 | #15 | $27,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $75,212 | $94,510 | -6% | #199 of 258 | #158 | $21,050 |
| Computer Engineering | $76,558 | $92,878 | -15% | #161 of 189 | #146 | $21,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $72,158 | $87,702 | -5% | #250 of 318 | #183 | $26,097 |
| Computer Science | $60,426 | $87,562 | -18% | #263 of 349 | #247 | $25,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | — | $84,529 | +-0% | #15 of 26 | #12 | — |
| Industrial Engineering | $68,873 | $84,016 | -15% | #88 of 94 | #82 | $25,625 |
| Civil Engineering | $72,729 | $83,992 | -3% | #134 of 233 | #106 | $22,250 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $62,869 | $83,779 | +56% | #1 of 14 | #1 | $21,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $53,163 | $80,522 | -3% | #191 of 452 | #177 | $23,250 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $67,303 | $77,589 | +10% | #83 of 253 | #78 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $59,953 | $77,296 | +16% | #11 of 77 | #9 | $17,875 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $64,181 | $76,527 | -8% | #102 of 166 | #98 | $22,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $57,695 | $74,888 | -2% | #357 of 796 | #339 | $23,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $70,821 | $73,935 | -17% | #902 of 966 | #907 | $24,250 |
| Marketing | $47,815 | $71,027 | +2% | #174 of 516 | #151 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,105 | $67,405 | -1% | #467 of 1176 | #415 | $22,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $58,799 | $65,292 | -14% | #81 of 93 | #84 | $31,000 |
| Architecture | — | $65,148 | -3% | #47 of 78 | #43 | $26,875 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $40,262 | $64,014 | +2% | #34 of 49 | #26 | $24,520 |
| Homeland Security | $42,802 | $62,649 | -11% | #27 of 33 | #23 | $27,000 |
| Agriculture | $55,828 | $62,285 | +16% | #6 of 43 | #5 | $18,086 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $36,513 | $62,181 | -5% | #10 of 25 | #10 | $25,250 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $52,387 | $58,690 | -18% | #10 of 10 | #10 | — |
| Biology | $34,165 | $58,662 | +3% | #386 of 841 | #313 | $21,784 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $38,057 | $58,252 | +5% | #193 of 660 | #151 | $21,125 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,846 | $57,663 | +12% | #103 of 299 | #89 | $27,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $40,558 | $56,197 | -3% | #33 of 57 | #32 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $40,451 | $56,040 | +6% | #145 of 462 | #91 | $23,324 |
| Environmental Design | — | $55,647 | -3% | #8 of 12 | #7 | — |
| Psychology | $35,891 | $54,784 | +8% | #259 of 1027 | #172 | $22,736 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $39,223 | $54,656 | -14% | #142 of 178 | #137 | $21,968 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $49,443 | $54,301 | -3% | #51 of 70 | #48 | $26,625 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $44,064 | $53,907 | -3% | #119 of 207 | #93 | $17,815 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,635 | $52,834 | -17% | #474 of 565 | #440 | $20,342 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $40,971 | $52,570 | -6% | #19 of 29 | #18 | $25,125 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,970 | $52,339 | +2% | #138 of 345 | #137 | $24,791 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $41,984 | $51,277 | -10% | #98 of 137 | #95 | — |
| Animal Sciences | $39,290 | $50,975 | +3% | #29 of 78 | #24 | $21,439 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $33,115 | $50,701 | +15% | #16 of 52 | #15 | $23,808 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $41,717 | $50,052 | +3% | #64 of 172 | #47 | $22,775 |
| Plant Sciences | $49,048 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $36,646 | $48,986 | -10% | #443 of 610 | #418 | $21,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | $46,117 | +11% | #99 of 423 | #77 | — |
| Music | — | $45,578 | +6% | #109 of 268 | #97 | — |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $36,814 | $44,457 | +1% | #5 of 11 | #6 | $21,378 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | — | $42,973 | +7% | #4 of 8 | #4 | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | $40,460 | -17% | #492 of 576 | #477 | $21,500 |
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.
🏆 Where North Dakota State University-Main Campus Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $9,309 | $13,963 |
| Room | $4,400 | |
| Board | $5,165 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $24,698 | $29,352 |
Financial Aid
93%
Receive Any Aid
21%
Receive Pell Grants
63%
Take Out Loans
$16,461
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,647 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,429 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,166 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,427 |
| $110,001+ | $19,218 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
178 grads/yr
Business Administration and Management, General
173 grads/yr
Mechanical Engineering
139 grads/yr
Finance, General
134 grads/yr
Human Development and Family Studies, General
113 grads/yr
Computer Science
111 grads/yr
Architecture
107 grads/yr
Psychology, General
105 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
77 grads/yr
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
72 grads/yr
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
70 grads/yr
Civil Engineering, General
59 grads/yr
Pharmacy
59 grads/yr
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
53 grads/yr
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
47 grads/yr
Agricultural Economics
46 grads/yr
Music, General
45 grads/yr
Pharmaceutical Sciences
45 grads/yr
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
44 grads/yr
Animal Sciences, General
39 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from North Dakota State University-Main Campus's top programs commonly pursue.
Registered nurses
$94k/yr
3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr
91,600 jobs
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
Student Demographics
11,952
Total Students
51%
Women
94%
Traditional Age (18-24)
4%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
80%
Hispanic
3%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or More
4%
Non-Resident
6%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
85%
Off-Campus (Renters)
4%
With Family
11%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~478 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
42%
Hybrid (Some Online)
51%
Fully Online
7%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
94%
25-64 (Adult)
6%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 96%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
Tuition at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is
$9,309 for in-state students
and $13,963 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $16,461.
What is the graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
The graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is 64%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is North Dakota State University-Main Campus a good school?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (B+): 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 (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus has a total enrollment of 11,952 students.
Most students (94%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
Yes! Approximately 4% of students at North Dakota State University-Main Campus live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 478 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for North Dakota State University-Main Campus — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology