by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in North Dakota, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **10** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 10 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of North Dakota this year in North Dakota. University Of North Dakota is a public school based in Grand Forks, ND. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. University Of North Dakota graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,378. Typical student debt is $25,110.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in North Dakota. This public school is set in Fargo, ND. North Dakota State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Median early-career earnings reach $54,076. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 10 graduate schools in North Dakota in this year's ranking, University Of Mary landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bismarck, ND. University Of Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $22,356. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,565 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans.
Out of the 10 graduate schools in North Dakota in this year's ranking, Jamestown College landed the #4 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jamestown, ND. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $24,990 in tuition and fees. Jamestown College graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,681. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Mayville State University one of the top graduate schools in North Dakota. Mayville State University is a public school based in Mayville, ND. Mayville State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,979, compared with $11,237 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,971. Graduates carry a median of $27,464 in student loans.
Minot State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Minot State University is a public school based in Minot, ND. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Students from in state pay about $8,702 in tuition and fees. Minot State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,645. Graduates carry a median of $25,788 in student loans.
Dickinson State University landed the #7 spot in North Dakota this year. This public school is set in Dickinson, ND. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,118. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,049. The median student debt is $27,266.
Valley City State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Valley City, ND, Valley City State University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,241. Typical student debt is $25,074.
Sitting Bull College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in North Dakota. Based in Fort Yates, ND, Sitting Bull College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,010.
Trinity Bible College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Ellendale, ND, Trinity Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,700.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
