After North Dakota State University: graduation, pay and debt
Fargo, North Dakota · Public · 9,471 undergrads
64% of North Dakota State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $65,925 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $21,500 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$65.9k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
64%
finish within six years.
45%
finish in four years.
78%
of first-years come back for year two.
$21.5k
median federal debt at graduation.
81%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
45%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
64%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
78%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
62%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
66%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
2,613
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
66%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
23%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
2,568
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
22%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$58,638
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$65,925
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
79%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$21,500
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$16,750
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$18,707
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$15,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
81%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
84%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
88%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Test scores: Common Data Set, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- GPA, early rounds and wait list: Common Data Set, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers