Best Colleges in North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Labor Market Information (NDLMI) projects that employment in the state will increase by 11.4% from 2016 to 2026, adding roughly 55,000 new positions. In addition to this strong overall economic growth, certain industries will likely experience even more rapid expansion. For example, the NDLMI projects that the field of healthcare and social assistance will grow by close to 20% in the coming years, accounting for more than 11,600 of the state’s new jobs.
The most lucrative professional opportunities in North Dakota typically require at least some kind of postsecondary education. For example, in 2018, dental hygienists in the state earned an annual mean wage of $72,580, approximately $23,000 more than the average of all other occupations. That same year, computer network architects in North Dakota made an average of $72,580. To qualify for these types of roles, you generally need either an associate or bachelor’s degree.
A college education can give you a competitive edge in the job market. To help you decide which school to attend, we have compiled a ranking of the best colleges in North Dakota. For each of the institutions on this list, we provide information on elements such as admission standards, the types of degrees and majors available, online learning options, and financial aid opportunities.
Each of the colleges on this ranking holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Best Accredited Colleges in North Dakota
- In-State$9,237
- Out-of-state$13,856
- In-State$11,963
- Out-of-state$17,944
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled14,172
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$7,168
- Out-of-state$7,168
- In-State$9,352
- Out-of-state$9,352
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate72%
- Students Enrolled2,741
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment61%
- AccreditationYes
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, ND- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,309
- Out-of-state$13,963
- In-State$7,585
- Out-of-state$11,377
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled11,952
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$23,400
- Out-of-state$23,400
- In-State$11,128
- Out-of-state$11,128
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled1,131
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment28%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2020. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
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