Every figure is for a student starting in fall 2027. We work each one out again whenever we update the site.
Paying for college in North Dakota
What the state and its colleges give families, who gets it, and how to apply.
From the state
- North Dakota State Grant: North Dakota residents with financial need, up to $1,375 a semester
- North Dakota Scholarship: North Dakota high school students who took harder courses, $6,000 in all
- Native American Scholarship: enrolled tribal members who live in North Dakota, up to $2,000 a year
From the colleges
Merit scholarships set by grades. At this college, a student who meets the terms is sure to get one.
| College | North Dakota students | From other states |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | $1,000 to $3,000 a year, from a 3.0 GPA (any state) | |
The other 7 colleges award scholarships on other terms. Each is in the table below.
Across state lines
Students from the other western states pay no more than 150% of resident tuition at Dickinson State, Mayville State, Minot State, NDSU, UND and Valley City State. A North Dakota student can do the same in those states. The Western Undergraduate Exchange ↓
What would each college cost your family?
See all 8 North Dakota colleges priced for your income, and the aid your student could get.
See costs at your income →Already have a list? Put your schools side by side →
Get reminders for the dates that matter
We'll email you on the dates that matter: when the FAFSA opens, when award letters arrive, and before you choose a college and pay the first bill. If college is two or more years away, we'll also email you when the tax year that counts begins and when it has a month left.
From the state
North Dakota's programs. Most come through the FAFSA or the state's own aid application; a few have their own.
North Dakota State Grant
For North Dakota residents who are first-time undergraduates with financial need, up to $1,375 a semester at a North Dakota college. Funding is limited, so file the FAFSA early. A Supplemental State Grant adds more when family income is $80,000 or less.
Source: North Dakota University System
“The North Dakota State Grant awards up to $1,375 per semester or $917 per quarter, based on enrollment status.”
“The Student Financial Assistance Program, also known as the State Grant, provides a non-repayable need-based grants to North Dakota residents who are first-time undergraduate students.”
“Funding under the state grant is limited, so early application is recommended.”
“Students must first have been awarded the ND State Grant. Total family income (based on the FAFSA), must be $80,000 or less.”
North Dakota Scholarship
For North Dakota high school students who took harder courses. It pays $6,000 in all, $750 a semester, for up to six years after graduation. The student must study full time and keep a 2.75 GPA.
Source: North Dakota University System
“The total value is $6,000 Maximum award amount = $750 per semester, $500 per quarter, or $500 per clock-hour term, or $500 per apprenticeship term. Recipients have up to six years following high school graduation to use the scholarship.”
“Maintain the minimum grade point average (GPA), or clock-hour equivalent, requirement of 2.75;”
“The scholarship was created to encourage and reward high school students for taking challenging coursework in preparation for attending a college or university within North Dakota.”
Native American Scholarship
For North Dakota residents who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe, up to $2,000 a year, by merit or need. A student needs a 2.0 GPA and applies each year, by July 15 for priority.
Source: North Dakota University System
“Enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes may qualify for up to $2,000 annually in scholarship funding under this merit or need-based program.”
“Be a North Dakota resident, and Be an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, and Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0;”
“All application materials must be completed EACH YEAR by July 15th for priority consideration.”
Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship
For North Dakota residents who took dual-credit classes in high school, a one-time award of $250, $500 or $750 by the number of classes. It applies at any North Dakota college.
Source: North Dakota University System
“The one-time scholarship award amounts are $250 for one dual credit class, $500 for two dual credit classes, and $750 for 3+ dual credit classes.”
From the colleges
What each college gives for grades, what it promises on aid, and its full price.
| College | Merit scholarships | Promise on aid | Full price a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson State University public |
| — | $20,600 |
| Mayville State University public |
| — | $18,447 |
| Minot State University public |
| — | $21,048 |
| North Dakota State University public |
| — | $24,702 |
| University of Jamestown private |
| — | $38,904 |
| University of Mary private | None published | — | $33,558 |
| University of North Dakota public |
| — | $25,869 |
| Valley City State University public |
| — | $19,271 |
* The finder and our college comparison show this scholarship when you enter your student's GPA.
Each college's page has a promise's conditions, in the college's own words. “Worth asking about” marks a program the college describes in words that stop short of a promise.
Full price: tuition and fees, housing and food, and books; in state at a public university. What your family would pay after grants depends on your income: the finder shows it.
1 more North Dakota college has no page here. For 0 of them, the federal data has no cost or no price by income. The rest mainly teach graduate students or run online programs. Show it
- Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Across state lines
The Western Undergraduate Exchange, run by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
Coming to North Dakota from another western state
Students from the other western states pay no more than 150% of resident tuition at the public colleges that take part. Each college sets its own rules: a minimum GPA, majors it leaves out, early deadlines, or a limit on how many students get the rate.
In North Dakota, Dickinson State, Mayville State, Minot State, NDSU, UND and Valley City State take part, and the table shows what each gives. North Dakota's community colleges are on the list too, and this page covers four-year colleges.
Going from North Dakota to another western state
A North Dakota student can use it the other way, at public colleges in the other western states. The group that runs the exchange has a savings finder that lists each college and what the exchange saves there.
Source: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)
“pay no more than 150% of the institution’s resident tuition rate”
“Residents of the following states and territories are eligible to apply for WUE: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.”
“Each school administers WUE differently: Institutions may require a minimum GPA, exclude selected majors, have early application deadlines, and/or limit the number of students awarded the WUE rate.”
Paying the rest
Our $99 plan works out which money pays each bill, semester by semester: your savings, your 529 and your loans, in the order that costs least.
Build your plan →Best once your award letter arrives. No letter yet? Get a reminder when it does.
How we worked these out
Costs: each college's own published price where it has one, otherwise the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, carried forward to fall 2027. Grants: each program’s own page. Scholarships: each college's own page, read by us and checked against it. SmartTuition.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any institution named here.