Cost of Attending College in North Dakota: Tuition and Living Costs
By Muntasir • Published Jun 24, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • US States & Cities
Public tuition and fees in North Dakota run about $10,500-11,000 a year for residents and $15,500-15,700 for nonresidents at the two flagships. Add fees, housing, and food and total cost of attendance lands near $23,000-27,000 in-state and $28,000-31,000 out-of-state. Private University of Mary charges a flat rate near $21,000-22,000 a year in tuition regardless of home state.
💵 NDSU 2026-27 in-state estimated total cost of attendance: $23,107. Out-of-state: $28,337.
UND 2024-25 tuition and fees: $10,951 in-state, $15,570 out-of-state. Estimated total cost of attendance: $26,541 in-state, $31,160 out-of-state.
University of Mary (private) 2026-27 tuition: $21,320 a year, plus general fees, the same for every student.
🏠 One-bedroom apartment rent runs around $914-970 a month in Fargo and around $1,081 a month in Grand Forks.
Two-year NDUS colleges cost well below either flagship for your first two years of general education credits.
What public tuition costs at the flagships
NDSU publishes a full breakdown of its estimated cost of attendance for 2026-27 on its own cost and aid page . UND's tuition rate does not display as easily on its own site, so the figures below for UND come from IPEDS backed tuition comparison data for the 2024-25 year, the most recent published rate.
| NDSU in-state (2026-27) | NDSU out-of-state (2026-27) | UND in-state (2024-25) | UND out-of-state (2024-25) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base tuition | $10,460 | $15,690 | Included in tuition and fees below | |
| Mandatory fees | $1,721 | $1,721 | Included in tuition and fees below | |
| Tuition and fees combined | $12,181 | $17,411 | $10,951 | $15,570 |
| Meal plan and housing | $10,926 | $10,926 | not itemized here | not itemized here |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $23,107 | $28,337 | $26,541 | $31,160 |
Financial aid cuts these sticker prices for most students. NDSU reports that 73% of enrolled students receive grants or scholarships, with an average award around $6,521. An in-state NDSU student paying the full $23,107 sticker price who receives that average award faces a net cost closer to $16,586 for the year, before any additional scholarships. UND's average net price after need-based aid runs closer to $20,754 for in-state students and $25,491 for out-of-state students, and UND students who use federal loans pay an average net price near $17,681 a year, well below the $26,541 in-state sticker price, per the same tuition comparison data. Run the same math against your own aid offer once you receive it, rather than budgeting off the sticker price alone.
What two-year colleges cost
North Dakota's five NDUS two-year colleges, Bismarck State College, North Dakota State College of Science, Lake Region State College, Williston State College, and Dakota College at Bottineau, charge well below flagship rates for general education and technical credits. Because credits transfer within the NDUS system, starting at a two-year college and finishing your degree at NDSU or UND lets you pay two-year rates for your general education courses and flagship rates only for your final two years of major coursework, cutting real dollars off your total four-year price. Check each college's current tuition and fee chart directly, since two-year rates vary by campus and by program, and confirm which credits transfer before you commit to a two-year path.
What private colleges cost
North Dakota's main private option, University of Mary in Bismarck, charges $10,660 per semester in tuition for 2026-27, or $21,320 a year, plus general fees of roughly $465-500 per semester. Unlike public campuses, private college tuition does not change by residency, so out-of-state students pay the same rate as North Dakota residents. Room and board add to that total and vary by housing choice, so confirm current figures directly with the school's financial aid office.
Living costs in North Dakota's student cities
Housing costs differ by city more than they differ by campus. In Fargo , home to NDSU, a one-bedroom apartment rents for roughly $914-970 a month, and overall living costs run close to the national average. In Grand Forks , home to UND, a one-bedroom runs closer to $1,081 a month.
| City | Campus | Typical 1-bedroom rent/month |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo | NDSU | $914-970 |
| Grand Forks | UND | ~$1,081 |
Smaller cities that host regional universities and two-year colleges, such as Minot, Dickinson, Bismarck, and Wahpeton, generally run cheaper than either Fargo or Grand Forks for off-campus housing. Beyond rent, North Dakota's overall cost of living sits close to or below the national average in most categories, including groceries and utilities, though winter heating costs run higher than in warmer states.
What sticker price doesn't cover
Cost of attendance figures typically bundle tuition, mandatory fees, and either on-campus housing and a meal plan or an off-campus housing allowance. They rarely capture the full cost of a car, health insurance, or discretionary spending. Build a personal budget on top of the official cost of attendance number, especially if you plan to live off campus in Fargo or Grand Forks and cover your own transportation and utilities. Add a bus pass or parking permit, a laptop if you don't already have one, and course materials that run several hundred dollars a semester depending on your major.
How the rest of the NDUS campuses compare
Regional universities Minot State, Dickinson State, Valley City State, and Mayville State publish lower tuition than either flagship. The five two-year colleges, Bismarck State College, NDSCS, Lake Region State College, Williston State College, and Dakota College at Bottineau, charge the least of any NDUS campus type. Check each campus's own tuition and fee chart for exact current rates, since per-credit pricing varies by campus and by program.
Building a realistic budget
Add your tuition and fees, on-campus or off-campus housing, food, books, and personal expenses to build a full-year number, then subtract any grants and scholarships you expect to receive. On-campus housing and a meal plan typically cost less than renting off campus once you factor in utilities, furniture, and a full grocery budget, especially for your first year. File the FAFSA early each year so your financial aid offer arrives before you need to sign a lease or a housing contract.