Top 10 Best Colleges In North Dakota 2024/2025 - Niche Rankings
| Table of Contents |
Any student serious about getting the greatest education possible should think about a school's location, size, diversity, concentration areas, study abroad opportunities, and a myriad of other things.
While most lists of the best colleges only include a handful of Ivy League schools, prospective students would be well to be aware that there are more than 4,000 degree-granting institutions in the US, spread across all fifty states and several territories.
The top four-year universities in North Dakota were compiled by Knowinsiders using Niche's rankings as their foundation. The ranking is based on a number of factors, including tuition, the student-teacher ratio, the acceptance rate, and the graduation rate. Prospective students also take a school's location into account, whether it's on the coast or in the heart of New England, as well as its proximity to tech hubs and corporations like Google, Apple, or Microsoft. We did not include schools whose information was only available online or could not be physically located in our rankings.
 |
| Top 10 Best Colleges In North Dakota, According To Niche |
Top 10 Best Colleges In North Dakota
1. North Dakota State University
 |
https://www.ndsu.edu/
– Location: Fargo, ND
– Acceptance rate: 95%
– Net price: $16,677
– SAT range: 1050-1260
– Niche grade: B+
North Dakota State University is one of the best public research colleges in the country, spending over $150 million on research each year. This position influences how lessons are taught in the classroom, giving students access to a demanding and data-driven education in fields including veterinary technology, agricultural economics, crop and weed sciences, and landscape architecture. The university also provides graduate certifications and master's degrees entirely online.
First-year applicants typically need to have a minimum high school GPA of 2.75 in order to get admitted. Additionally, a composite ACT score of at least 22 or a SAT score of 1100 or above are recommended by NDSU. Applicants for transfers with less than 24 college credits must additionally submit their ACT or SAT results.
2. Dickinson State University
https://dickinsonstate.edu/index.html
– Location: Dickinson, ND
– Acceptance rate: 99%
– Net price: $15,607
– SAT range: 910-1110
– Niche grade: B-
Founded in 1918, Dickinson State University is a public university. The university provides special dual mission career training in addition to bachelor's, associate's, and post-secondary certificate programs. A variety of courses are available to undergraduate students, including natural sciences, education, business and entrepreneurship, liberal arts, and agriculture and technical studies.
3. University of Mary
 |
https://www.umary.edu/
– Location: Bismarck, ND
– Acceptance rate: 79%
– Net price: $19,474
– SAT range: 1000–1220
– Niche grade: B+
Students of all origins and faiths are welcome at the private Catholic University of Mary. The institution teaches about 4,600 students annually at five satellite campuses and through a variety of online programs in addition to its main campus in Bismarck. Programs in subjects including bioethics, IT administration, and teaching autistic children are available to distance learners.
The institution works to make a top-notch education reasonably accessible. At Mary, tuition is far less than at other private institutions in the nation, and almost all of the students get financial assistance. Catholic high school graduates, for example, are entitled to free housing and board at the university. Additionally, students enrolled in evening or online programs can receive up to $1,000 in support through the Impact Scholarship.
4. Trinity Bible College
https://trinitybiblecollege.edu/
https://www.trinitybiblecollege.edu/
– Location: Ellendale, ND
– Acceptance rate: 97%
– Net price: $18,862
– SAT range: 950-1110
– Niche grade: C+
The North Dakota private Christian college Trinity Bible is situated in the town of Ellendale. With only 121 undergraduates enrolled, it is a relatively tiny school. There is a 97% approval rate for the Trinity Bible. Studying the Bible, religion, and ministry, as well as missionary studies, are popular majors. Trinity Bible graduates have an average beginning salary of $25,000—a rate that is 40% more than the national average.
5. University of North Dakota
https://und.edu/
– Location: Grand Forks, ND
– Acceptance rate: 89%
– Net price: $17,425
– SAT range: 1110-1290
– Niche grade: B+
Established in 1883—six years before the state that bears its name became a state—the University of North Dakota currently enrolls around 13,500 students annually.
American Indian studies, criminal justice, biomedical sciences, and geological engineering are just a few of the undergraduate and graduate degrees offered by this institution. A wide variety of online classes and programs are also available at the institution, making higher education more accessible to students in remote areas and working professionals.
READ MORE: The Top 10 Most Reputable Business Colleges in the World
6. Bismarck State College
https://bismarckstate.edu/
– Location: Bismarck, ND
– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $10,249
– SAT range: Not available
– Niche grade: B-
The public Bismarck State College offers associate degrees in fields like as music, nursing, business, and technology, among others. You can also get a bachelor's degree right here on campus. Through an engaging distance learning program, students can complete the requirements for an associate degree entirely online. More than 150 courses are available online, and there are about 35 technical programs.
7. Mayville State University
 |
https://mayvillestate.edu/
– Location: Mayville, ND
– Acceptance rate: 61%
– Net price: $14,270
– SAT range: 880-1250
– Niche grade: B
The public Bismarck State College offers associate degrees in fields like as music, nursing, business, and technology, among others. You can also get a bachelor's degree right here on campus. Through an engaging distance learning program, students can complete the requirements for an associate degree entirely online. More than 150 courses are available online, and there are about 35 technical programs.
READ MORE: Top 25+ Oldest American Colleges and Universities
8. Valley City State University
https://www.vcsu.edu/
– Location: Valley City, ND
– Acceptance rate: 81%
– Net price: $13,243
– SAT range: 900-1070
– Niche grade: B+
The little public liberal arts institution known as Valley City State University has been around since 1890. Over sixty-five majors and pre-professional programs are available at this institution. Valley City, with a population of approximately 6,500, is the town where the institution is situated. The school's theater and music programs are well-known. VCSU's sporting teams participate in NCAA Division II games and are known as the Vikings.
9. University of Jamestown
https://www.uj.edu/
– Location: Jamestown, ND
– Acceptance rate: 76%
– Net price: $20,095
– SAT range: 900-1140
– Niche grade: B-
In 1883, the Presbyterian Church opened the University of Jamestown, a private Christian liberal arts school. This school offers many degree programs for first-year students, such as those in business, nursing, and teaching. Online degree programs are a way for students who want to get a bachelor's degree but can't go to classes on campus to do so. The school has 27 buildings spread out over 110 acres. Ten classroom buildings and six dorms make up the school.
10. Minot State University
https://www.minotstateu.edu/
– Location: Minot, ND
– Acceptance rate: 88%
– Net price: $12,935
– SAT range: 990-1200
– Niche grade: B+
This school has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission, which is great. There are about 3,000 students at Minot State University, and the hard sciences, economics, and liberal arts are some of the majors. Students who can't make it to classes on campus can also earn their degrees online through Minot State. In order to get a minor and the honors designation from MSU, students must first take a certain number of classes. There are study sessions, seminars, chances to do research on your own, and service-learning projects as part of the program.
FAQs
What is the total number of North Dakota colleges?
North Dakota is home to twenty-one schools that have earned a spot in the prestigious Carnegie Classification of Higher Education.
How many four-year universities does North Dakota have?
North Dakota is home to six public four-year universities. North Dakota's public universities and colleges had an undergraduate enrollment of 24,152 students and a degree completion rate of 7,634.
In North Dakota, which university is the biggest?
North Dakota State University
No other university in North Dakota can compare to the size and history of the University of North Dakota. You can get one of our 225+ degrees online or on campus from an authorized institution.
Conclusion
Despite having the second-lowest population in the United States, North Dakota is home to several universities in its northern regions that are highly regarded for their engineering, business, and nursing programs.
Quality of education, student achievements, and ROI were the deciding factors in our ranking of the top 10 universities in North Dakota. Retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median wages, cost of attendance, and a host of other characteristics are also taken into account.
 Top 10 Best Universities In California By Enrollment Rate (Ranked By Niche) California, the most populated state in the union, enrolls hundreds of thousands of college students annually. The Top 10 Best Colleges in California Based on ... |
 Top 10 Colleges With Best Food In The U.S, According to Niche Do you believe students select colleges based on food quality? Many campuses offer high-quality food that attract a huge number of students every year. Check ... |
 Top 10 Best Private Colleges In Florida Today Private institutions, which are more selective, typically have lower class sizes and thus more direct instruction and support. In this essay, we will learn about ... |
