Bismarck State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bismarck State College charges a net price of $10,270/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $20,540. Graduates earn a median $54,277 ten years after entry, $5,917/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.5 years — a 20-year net return of $97,800, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bismarck State College's 3.5-year payback ranks #229 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 82% of them, and #1 of 17 in North Dakota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,270/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $20,540 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,277 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,917/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,533 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $97,800 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.