Head-to-head comparison
North Dakota State University-Main Campus vs Bismarck State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fargo, ND
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,543
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,203
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Bismarck, ND
Bismarck State College
- Net price / year
- $10,270
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,277
- Payback
- 3.5 yrs
Bismarck State College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $20,540 in 3.5 years versus 4.5 years at North Dakota State University-Main Campus, on median earnings of $54,277 vs $62,203 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | Bismarck State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,543 | $10,270 |
| Total net cost | $62,172 | $20,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,203 | $54,277 |
| Median debt | $23,199 | $11,533 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $214,688 | $97,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, North Dakota State University-Main Campus or Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College, at $10,270 a year after aid versus $15,543 — a gap of $5,273 a year, or $41,632 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 North Dakota State University-Main Campus or Bismarck State College graduates earn more?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $62,203 ten years after entry, $7,926 more than the $54,277 at Bismarck 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, North Dakota State University-Main Campus or Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College: its completers carry a median $11,533 in federal loans versus $23,199 at North Dakota State University-Main Campus, a difference of $11,666. 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?
64% of students finish at North Dakota State University-Main Campus, against 47% at Bismarck State 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.