Head-to-head comparison
University of North Dakota vs Bismarck State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Grand Forks, ND
University of North Dakota
- Net price / year
- $18,551
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,552
- Payback
- 4.9 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 4.9 years at University of North Dakota, on median earnings of $54,277 vs $63,552 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Dakota | Bismarck State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,551 | $10,270 |
| Total net cost | $74,204 | $20,540 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,552 | $54,277 |
| Median debt | $22,057 | $11,533 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $229,636 | $97,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of North Dakota or Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College, at $10,270 a year after aid versus $18,551 — a gap of $8,281 a year, or $53,664 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 North Dakota or Bismarck State College graduates earn more?
University of North Dakota graduates report a median $63,552 ten years after entry, $9,275 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, University of North Dakota or Bismarck State College?
Bismarck State College: its completers carry a median $11,533 in federal loans versus $22,057 at University of North Dakota, a difference of $10,524. 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?
60% of students finish at University of North Dakota, 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.