Business Schools in North Dakota
Located at the top of a “stack” of five states running north to south through the United States’ very center, North Dakota is a cold land of peaceful quiet, vast plains of farmland, and considerable economic opportunity. Admitted to the union in 1889 and South Dakota, the two states have a lot in common, though North Dakota is smaller and slightly less populous (the two are 46th and 47th, respectively, in that regard). Known in the past primarily for its significant agricultural output, North Dakota has been experiencing an energy boom in the early 21st century due to its coal and oil reserves. The state also has its share of industrial and technology companies, including Microsoft’s second-largest campus, located in Fargo.
Due to its remote location and population of only a little over three-quarters of a million people, North Dakota has a relatively small number of business schools. National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data shows 12 public and non-profit schools that grant undergraduate business degrees in the state, of which half are accredited. We always recommend choosing an accredited business degree school. This assures that the program you select has clear objectives and produces quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer a richer educational experience by providing interaction with real businesses.
All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
In this article, you will find all the essential data you need to help you choose the North Dakota business school that best suits your unique needs, based on various key factors, including tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, and acceptance rates, and more. The sections that follow describe undergraduate programs and job prospects for business school graduates in North Dakota.
Undergraduate Business Schools in North Dakota
Four of North Dakota’s schools are excellent budget options, ranging in price from $6,300 at Dickinson State University to $8,300 at North Dakota State University. The other two are more expensive: the University of Mary ($17,400) and the University of Jamestown ($20,500). Financial aid is moderate and perhaps a bit on the low side for a small state in the center of the country, with most schools offering about one-half to two-thirds of their tuition cost in support.
Acceptance rates in North Dakota are excellent, with an overall average of 77%. The most selective school is the University of Jamestown, at 57%, while the easiest to get into is North Dakota State University at 93%. Graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in North Dakota are moderate and in a tight band. The overall average is 48%, ranging from 30% at Dickinson State University to 56% at North Dakota State University. Since this latter school has the best acceptance rate and graduation rate, it’s no surprise that it leads in the combined category.
The table below shows you all the essential data you need about undergraduate business schools in North Dakota, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson State University | Dickinson | $6,348 | $4,500 | 850-1200 | 18-31 | 92% | 30% |
| Minot State University | Minot | $6,568 | $3,973 | 920-1090 | 18-23 | 60% | 43% |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo | $8,327 | $4,927 | 1000-1290 | 21-26 | 93% | 56% |
| University of Jamestown | Jamestown | $20,480 | $12,720 | 890-1140 | 20-25 | 57% | 50% |
| University of Mary | Bismarck | $17,445 | $8,458 | 930-1170 | 20-26 | 77% | 54% |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | $8,136 | $4,868 | 960-1190 | 21-26 | 84% | 55% |
Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in North Dakota
From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts total growth of at least 5% in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US. The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
Like its immediate neighbor to the south, North Dakota has reliable employment figures. They are even slightly better, perhaps because of the state’s oil boom. North Dakota’s unemployment rate has been significantly lower than the national average for at least the last 30 years, peaked at just 4.3% during the Great Recession, and currently stands at a minuscule 2.6%. About 27,500 people were employed in the business and management sector in North Dakota in 2016. The largest subgroup was general and operations managers at 7,250, nearly double the next largest subgroup, accountants and auditors at 3,490.
According to BLS data, North Dakota ranked 18th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the overall average annual wage across all occupations in 2016 at $60,656, a little above the national average of $57,617. Business and management occupations had a weighted yearly average wage of around $85,900 that same year. Chief executives were the highest-paid category at $160,000—noticeably less than the figure in South Dakota—while most management positions fell between $90,000 and $120,000. The lowest-paid of the groups was tax preparers at $47,300.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment North Dakota | Mean Hourly Wage North Dakota | Mean Annual Wage North Dakota | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 3,490 | $29 | $60,550 | 8.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 650 | $41 | $85,540 | 9.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 50 | $45 | $94,340 | 5.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 400 | $61 | $126,130 | 7.4% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 100 | $33 | $68,800 | 10.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 2,230 | $33 | $69,180 | 10.1% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 640 | $77 | $160,590 | 11.9% |
| Compensation, and Benefits Specialists | 13-1141 | 140 | $28 | $58,560 | 5.6% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 1,130 | $31 | $63,520 | 5.0% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 1,120 | $51 | $105,050 | 8.9% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 680 | $31 | $64,930 | 10.3% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 150 | $31 | $64,230 | 11.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 70 | $26 | $54,460 | 5.5% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 220 | $36 | $74,150 | 4.9% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 150 | $35 | $72,710 | 8.2% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 1,350 | $57 | $119,240 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 7,250 | $50 | $103,630 | 7.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 260 | $53 | $109,370 | -7.8% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 1,250 | $28 | $57,970 | 6.9% |
| Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 500 | $58 | $119,770 | 12.0% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 290 | $33 | $68,870 | 10.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 60 | $46 | $95,130 | 8.5% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 1,280 | $35 | $72,120 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 280 | $31 | $63,890 | 22.8% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 550 | $37 | $76,190 | 8.8% |
| Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 870 | $26 | $53,180 | 10.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 280 | $51 | $106,000 | 6.5% |
| Meeting and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 160 | $23 | $48,280 | 8.4% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 140 | $48 | $99,880 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 110 | $60 | $124,910 | -5.2% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 610 | $54 | $112,360 | 9.8% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 90 | $31 | $63,940 | 13.9% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 160 | $23 | $47,310 | 11.5% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 70 | $53 | $109,750 | -0.6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 13-1151 | 700 | $28 | $58,560 | 10.8% |
Other Popular State Pages
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics:https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
4. IACBE, Business Schools:https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates North Dakota: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nd.htm
7. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools