Head-to-head comparison
University of Mary vs Dickinson State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bismarck, ND
University of Mary
- Net price / year
- $17,770
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,909
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Dickinson, ND
Dickinson State University
- Net price / year
- $14,092
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,720
- Payback
- 23.9 yrs
University of Mary has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,080 in 5.7 years versus 23.9 years at Dickinson State University, on median earnings of $60,909 vs $50,720 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Mary | Dickinson State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,770 | $14,092 |
| Total net cost | $71,080 | $56,368 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,909 | $50,720 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $18,442 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 23.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $179,900 | -$9,168 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Mary or Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University, at $14,092 a year after aid versus $17,770 — a gap of $3,678 a year, or $14,712 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 University of Mary or Dickinson State University graduates earn more?
University of Mary graduates report a median $60,909 ten years after entry, $10,189 more than the $50,720 at Dickinson 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, University of Mary or Dickinson State University?
Dickinson State University: its completers carry a median $18,442 in federal loans versus $24,000 at University of Mary, a difference of $5,558. 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?
67% of students finish at University of Mary, against 51% at Dickinson 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.