At $18,998/yr net price, University of North Dakota graduates earn $63,552/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $29,552/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,998 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $75,992 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,552/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$29,552/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 63.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $22,057 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,914/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,615/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,625/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,282/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,640/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $107,376 | $51,250 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $101,645 | $53,187 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $76,460 | $20,220 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $76,460 | $27,000 |
| Petroleum Engineering. | Bachelor | $72,762 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $67,660 | $59,500 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $66,325 | $25,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $64,608 | $22,500 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $63,005 | |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $63,005 | $18,211 |
The Risk Factor
63.3% of students at University of North Dakota graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
University of North Dakota gives you a solid financial return, with median debt sitting well below what graduates earn ten years out. The math works in your favor if you finish, and most first-year students do come back.
Engineering is where UND pays off hardest. Electrical engineering leads the pack, and petroleum engineering makes sense given North Dakota's oil economy in the Bakken region. Both let you clear your debt fast even though they carry the highest borrowing on campus at $27,000. Civil engineering is the quiet winner here: you earn nearly as much as chemical engineering graduates while borrowing about $9,000 less, so your payoff comes quicker. Any of these five majors puts you above the school's median earnings.
The main risk is finishing. With a graduation rate under two-thirds, roughly one in three students doesn't complete a degree, and dropping out with loans and no diploma is the worst outcome this school can hand you. That risk is real if you enroll in a program you're unsure about, since only engineering earnings are documented here.
The net price tiers are unusually flat. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay about $13,600 to $13,900. Once you cross $48,000, the price jumps roughly $5,000 and barely moves after that, so a family earning $50,000 pays nearly the same net price as one earning over $110,000. That middle-income bump is the sharpest cost jump you'll face.
UND fits you well if you're headed into engineering and can commit to finishing, especially with the regional energy job market backing petroleum and electrical grads. If you're a lower-income student, the price stays manageable. Look harder before enrolling if you're undecided on a major, since the strong earnings data here is concentrated in a handful of engineering fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of North Dakota worth the cost?
University of North Dakota offers reasonable value with a net price of $19,000 and median debt of $22,000, but the 10-year earnings of $63,500 are below average for college graduates. The school's worth depends heavily on your major, with nursing and engineering programs showing much stronger returns than the overall average.
What are the highest paying majors at University of North Dakota?
Nursing programs at UND lead in earnings potential, with registered nursing graduates earning around $107,000 annually. Engineering fields like electrical and petroleum engineering also perform well, with graduates earning $76,000-$77,000. Business and general programs show more modest returns.
How much debt do University of North Dakota graduates typically have?
UND graduates carry a median debt of $22,000, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with average earnings of $63,500 ten years after graduation, debt repayment may still be challenging for graduates in lower-paying fields.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Dakota and does it affect ROI?
University of North Dakota has a 63% graduation rate, meaning over one-third of students don't finish their degree. Students who don't graduate still accumulate debt without the earning potential of a degree, making program completion critical for positive ROI.