Head-to-head comparison
North Dakota State University-Main Campus vs Valley City State University: 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 Valley City, ND
Valley City State University
- Net price / year
- $11,890
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,725
- Payback
- 10.9 yrs
North Dakota State University-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,172 in 4.5 years versus 10.9 years at Valley City State University, on median earnings of $62,203 vs $52,725 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | Valley City State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,543 | $11,890 |
| Total net cost | $62,172 | $47,560 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,203 | $52,725 |
| Median debt | $23,199 | $20,369 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 10.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $214,688 | $39,740 |
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 Valley City State University?
Valley City State University, at $11,890 a year after aid versus $15,543 — a gap of $3,653 a year, or $14,612 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 Valley City State University graduates earn more?
North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $62,203 ten years after entry, $9,478 more than the $52,725 at Valley City State University. 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 Valley City State University?
Valley City State University: its completers carry a median $20,369 in federal loans versus $23,199 at North Dakota State University-Main Campus, a difference of $2,830. 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 53% at Valley City 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.