At $16,334/yr net price, North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates earn $62,203/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $28,203/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $16,334 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $65,336 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,203/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$28,203/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 63.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,199 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,647/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,429/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,166/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,427/yr |
| $110,001+ | $19,218/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $117,751 | $79,304 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $101,072 | $46,124 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $72,828 | $21,500 |
| Manufacturing Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,660 | |
| Agricultural Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,660 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $66,401 | $21,050 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $65,409 | $26,097 |
| Construction Management. | Bachelor | $64,865 | |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $63,556 | $22,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $62,397 | $24,250 |
The Risk Factor
63.7% of students at North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 36% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
North Dakota State delivers a solid financial return, driven almost entirely by its engineering programs. You graduate with median debt near $23,000 and hit median earnings above $62,000 within ten years, which means your debt load stays well under a single year's pay. For a public university, that ratio works in your favor.
Engineering is where the payoff is clearest. Computer engineering leads at close to $73,000, and its graduates carry less debt than the mechanical engineering track, which pays lower and borrows more. Manufacturing, agricultural, and electrical engineering all land in the mid-$60,000s. Agricultural engineering matters here specifically because Fargo sits in farm country, so that degree connects directly to the regional economy around you. If you enroll in one of these five majors, the numbers strongly support the cost.
The risk is what falls outside engineering. The only program-level earnings listed are engineering degrees, so if you pursue a major that isn't among them, you can't assume the same $62,000 outcome applies to you. A 64% graduation rate and 77% retention also mean a real share of students leave, and leaving with debt and no degree is the worst financial outcome at any school.
Net price scales with income here. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $10,600 a year. above $110,000, you pay closer to $19,200. Even at the top tier, the price stays moderate for an out-of-state-caliber engineering program.
This school fits you if you're committed to engineering or a technical field tied to the upper Midwest job market. If you're undecided or leaning toward a major with no listed earnings data, weigh that gap before you borrow, and confirm your intended program's outcomes directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Dakota State University-Main Campus worth the cost?
NDSU offers solid value with a net price of $16,334 and median debt of $23,199, leading to typical earnings of $62,203 after 10 years. The pharmacy and nursing programs provide particularly strong returns, while the 64% graduation rate suggests completion risk for some students.
What are the highest paying majors at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
Pharmacy graduates earn $117,751 annually, while nursing graduates make $101,072. Engineering fields like computer, agricultural, and manufacturing engineering all pay around $67,000-$73,000.
How much student debt do North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates have?
The median debt is $23,199, which is manageable compared to typical post-graduation earnings of $62,203. Students in high-paying programs like pharmacy can easily handle this debt load.
What is the graduation rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
NDSU has a 64% graduation rate, meaning about one in three students don't finish their degree. This completion risk should factor into your decision, especially given the time and money invested.