Head-to-head comparison
Mayville State University vs Sitting Bull College: which has better ROI?
Option A Mayville, ND
Mayville State University
- Net price / year
- $11,456
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,828
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Fort Yates, ND
Sitting Bull College
- Net price / year
- $4,605
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,488
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mayville State University comes closer — median earnings $47,828 against a $45,824 total, vs $28,488 at Sitting Bull College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mayville State University | Sitting Bull College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,456 | $4,605 |
| Total net cost | $45,824 | $9,210 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,828 | $28,488 |
| Median debt | $18,585 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$56,464 | -$406,650 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mayville State University or Sitting Bull College?
Sitting Bull College, at $4,605 a year after aid versus $11,456 — a gap of $6,851 a year, or $36,614 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Mayville State University or Sitting Bull College graduates earn more?
Mayville State University graduates report a median $47,828 ten years after entry, $19,340 more than the $28,488 at Sitting Bull College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Mayville State University, against 22% at Sitting Bull College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.