It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in North Dakota ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 9 colleges and universities across North Dakota to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in North Dakota earn an average starting salary of $45,120, those from the top 9 school on this list made an average of $48,709.
Starting Salary ( 27349 to 62597 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in North Dakota take out an average of $27,473.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top bachelor's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
University of North Dakota tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in North Dakota for overall quality. This fairly large public school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 2,097 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UND go into careers with an average salary of $45,857 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,979 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $591 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 in North Dakota on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,568 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University make an average of $44,973 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,051.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valley City State University. The school came in at #3 in North Dakota on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Valley City State University is a small public school situated in Valley City, North Dakota. It awarded 295 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Valley City State University go into careers with an average salary of $37,333 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,004 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Mary. The school came in at #4 in North Dakota on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 602 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,426 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,331 in student loans.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Minot State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in North Dakota. Minot State University is a small public school located in Minot, North Dakota that handed out 561 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,068 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,800 after getting their degree.
Dickinson State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Dakota ranking, coming in at #6. DSU is a small public school situated in Dickinson, North Dakota. It awarded 268 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from DSU make an average of $43,771 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $29,008 in student loans.
Bismarck State College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Dakota ranking, coming in at #7. BSC is a public institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 65 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from BSC go into careers with an average salary of $94,930 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,100 after getting their degree.
University of Jamestown ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Dakota list. Located in Jamestown, North Dakota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 154 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,349 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,100 after getting their degree.
Mayville State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Dakota list. Located in Mayville, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 240 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Mayville State University make an average of $39,678 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $29,831 in student loans.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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