Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in North Dakota by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in North Dakota ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in North Dakota

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$63,861

Across all North Dakota programs

Average Annual Cost

$18,920

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Nuclear Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$1,937,172	$140,386	$15,274	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.	+$1,007,752	$94,725	$15,274	$12,000	Full ROI →
3	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$866,333	$87,805	$15,274	$14,236	Full ROI →
4	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$710,152	$79,845	$15,274	$12,000	Full ROI →
5	Dickinson State University Grad rate: 43.9%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$354,960	$63,033	$20,155	$18,807	Full ROI →
6	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$333,365	$62,329	$16,291	$30,098	Full ROI →
7	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$277,895	$60,421	$24,675	$30,500	Full ROI →
8	Lake Region State College Grad rate: 47.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$259,751	$58,420	$15,890	$27,310	Full ROI →
9	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$252,546	$57,868	$15,274	$25,382	Full ROI →
10	Dakota College at Bottineau Grad rate: 41.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$243,229	$57,801	$17,270	$28,334	Full ROI →
11	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Agricultural Mechanization.	+$233,891	$56,171	$16,291	$12,553	Full ROI →
12	Williston State College Grad rate: 36.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$226,082	$56,601	$18,119	$22,000	Full ROI →
13	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Computer Engineering.	+$202,182	$56,172	$24,675	$23,635	Full ROI →
14	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$197,908	$54,267	$16,291	$11,000	Full ROI →
15	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	+$184,200	$53,638	$16,291	$11,835	Full ROI →
16	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$103,358	$48,797	$16,291	N/A	Full ROI →
17	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$92,596	$49,293	$16,291	$15,320	Full ROI →
18	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$91,760	$50,743	$24,675	$25,000	Full ROI →
19	Lake Region State College Grad rate: 47.5%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	+$87,560	$47,967	$15,890	N/A	Full ROI →
20	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Precision Metal Working.	+$60,575	$47,417	$16,291	$11,246	Full ROI →
21	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Human Resources Management and Services.	+$8,326	$46,675	$24,675	$26,536	Full ROI →
22	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Agricultural Business and Management.	-$9,148	$43,880	$15,274	$12,000	Full ROI →
23	Lake Region State College Grad rate: 47.5%	Agricultural Business and Management.	-$16,940	$42,742	$15,890	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Marketing.	-$36,265	$44,488	$24,675	$27,167	Full ROI →
25	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$48,521	$42,849	$16,291	$24,385	Full ROI →
26	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Agricultural Business and Management.	-$49,682	$41,952	$16,291	$11,956	Full ROI →
27	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	-$55,922	$43,530	$24,675	$27,535	Full ROI →
28	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Management Information Systems and Services.	-$72,902	$42,671	$24,675	$27,387	Full ROI →
29	Lake Region State College Grad rate: 47.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$79,000	$39,639	$15,890	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$97,560	$41,237	$24,675	$24,408	Full ROI →
31	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Business/Commerce, General.	-$130,188	$37,018	$15,274	N/A	Full ROI →
32	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$136,682	$36,795	$16,291	N/A	Full ROI →
33	Bismarck State College Grad rate: 49.6%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$150,688	$36,803	$15,274	$12,000	Full ROI →
34	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Accounting and Related Services.	-$163,571	$37,897	$24,675	$23,823	Full ROI →
35	Williston State College Grad rate: 36.1%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$177,675	$35,485	$18,119	$8,250	Full ROI →
36	Turtle Mountain Community College Grad rate: 46.3%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$179,240	$34,514	$14,760	N/A	Full ROI →
37	Lake Region State College Grad rate: 47.5%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$193,150	$34,721	$15,890	$11,697	Full ROI →
38	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$193,629	$36,511	$24,675	$25,555	Full ROI →
39	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$205,790	$34,336	$16,291	$14,762	Full ROI →
40	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$236,812	$32,531	$16,291	$11,000	Full ROI →
41	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	-$244,890	$33,978	$24,675	$26,000	Full ROI →
42	North Dakota State College of Science Grad rate: 46.7%	Culinary Arts and Related Services.	-$306,442	$28,307	$16,291	N/A	Full ROI →
43	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Legal Support Services.	-$306,782	$31,010	$24,675	$27,876	Full ROI →
44	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services.	-$357,856	$28,371	$24,675	$26,612	Full ROI →
45	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.	-$397,376	$26,157	$24,675	$23,086	Full ROI →
46	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Grad rate: 56.4%	Human Services, General.	-$428,500	$24,857	$24,675	$26,882	Full ROI →
47	Dakota College at Bottineau Grad rate: 41.4%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$454,905	$21,758	$17,270	$11,500	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.