Head-to-head comparison
Mayville State University vs Williston State 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 Williston, ND
Williston State College
- Net price / year
- $5,932
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,017
- 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 $44,017 at Williston State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mayville State University | Williston State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,456 | $5,932 |
| Total net cost | $45,824 | $11,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,828 | $44,017 |
| Median debt | $18,585 | $10,099 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$56,464 | -$98,724 |
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 Williston State College?
Williston State College, at $5,932 a year after aid versus $11,456 — a gap of $5,524 a year, or $33,960 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 Williston State College graduates earn more?
Mayville State University graduates report a median $47,828 ten years after entry, $3,811 more than the $44,017 at Williston State 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 leaves students with less debt, Mayville State University or Williston State College?
Williston State College: its completers carry a median $10,099 in federal loans versus $18,585 at Mayville State University, a difference of $8,486. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Williston State College, against 41% at Mayville State University. 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.