Small Colleges in North Dakota

University of Mary stands out among North Dakota's small colleges with a 68.2% graduation rate and graduates earning $60,909 annually, reflecting the state's strong job market in energy and healthcare sectors. The 18 small colleges across North Dakota offer remarkably affordable education, with net costs ranging from just $2,010 at United Tribes Technical College to $20,396 at Trinity Bible College. Several institutions show impressive outcomes despite modest enrollments, including Lake Region State College in Devils Lake with 599 students achieving a 50.6% graduation rate. North Dakota's Academic Scholarship program supports high achievers at these institutions, while the state's energy boom and agricultural economy create solid career prospects for graduates. Community colleges like Bismarck State College demonstrate particular strength, with 2,629 students and graduates earning $54,277 on average. The state's tribal colleges, including Turtle Mountain Community College and Sitting Bull College, serve important populations while maintaining very low costs. These small institutions benefit from North Dakota's low cost of living and tight labor market, where employers actively recruit from local colleges to fill positions in oil fields, hospitals, and agricultural businesses throughout the region.