Best Colleges in North Dakota 2026

North Dakota has 20 colleges and universities in our database; 20 report the graduation-rate data our ranking requires. The top 20 are ranked below by a fixed four-factor formula: 6-year graduation rate (30%), median earnings 10 years after entry (30%), admission selectivity (20%), and in-state tuition affordability (20%).

Schools Ranked

$45,408

Avg. Earnings

44.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 20 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Bismarck State College Bismarck, North Dakota	48.0%	$54,277		$5,195
2	Lake Region State College Devils Lake, North Dakota	50.6%	$49,502		$5,478
3	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, North Dakota	49.9%	$50,513		$5,928
4	University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota	63.3%	$63,552	83.3%	$10,951
5	Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau, North Dakota	53.4%	$40,576		$5,347
6	University of Mary Bismarck, North Dakota	68.2%	$60,909	81.4%	$21,468
7	Turtle Mountain Community College Belcourt, North Dakota	54.5%	$32,079		$2,626
8	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	63.7%	$62,203	95.7%	$10,857
9	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota	57.9%	$39,080		$12,715
10	Williston State College Williston, North Dakota	39.5%	$44,017		$4,938
11	Dickinson State University Dickinson, North Dakota	43.4%	$50,720	72.0%	$9,118
12	Valley City State University Valley City, North Dakota	48.1%	$52,725	83.5%	$8,514
13	Mayville State University Mayville, North Dakota	40.3%	$47,828	71.2%	$7,935
14	Minot State University Minot, North Dakota	47.8%	$51,759	93.2%	$8,634
15	Trinity Bible College and Graduate School Ellendale, North Dakota	38.8%	$35,604	44.4%	$18,762
16	United Tribes Technical College Bismarck, North Dakota	33.8%	$25,292		$4,252
17	Sitting Bull College Fort Yates, North Dakota	23.9%	$28,488		$4,010
18	University of Jamestown Jamestown, North Dakota	44.0%	$56,621	92.0%	$24,820
19	Cankdeska Cikana Community College Fort Totten, North Dakota	9.1%	$17,008		$3,950
20	Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College New Town, North Dakota	17.1%			$3,870