There are 26 colleges in North Dakota - 14 public and 12 private schools. At North Dakota colleges, over the past decade, the Cost of Attendance (COA)—covering tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and living expenses—has sharply increased, making higher education less affordable for many students and families.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at North Dakota colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 30.14% (from $5,923 to $7,708) | $7,708 |
| Public, Out-of-State | -5.04% (from $10,408 to $9,883) | $9,883 |
| Private Colleges | 25.52% (from $11,881 to $14,913) | $14,913 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by -5.04%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 0.87% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 9.93% when living on campus and 11.27% when living off campus at North Dakota Colleges.
In private North Dakota Colleges, the COA has increase by 25.02% (on-campus) and 25.57% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $23,238 when a student lives on campus and $24,753 when living off campus at North Dakota Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for North Dakota Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $16,653 | $21,138 | $22,611 | $17,761 | $22,246 | $23,719 |
| 2016-17 | $17,348 4.17% | $21,992 4.04% | $23,426 3.60% | $18,064 1.71% | $22,708 2.08% | $24,142 1.78% |
| 2017-18 | $17,726 2.18% | $22,522 2.41% | $23,904 2.04% | $18,527 2.56% | $23,323 2.71% | $24,705 2.33% |
| 2018-19 | $17,728 0.01% | $21,360 -5.16% | $23,651 -1.06% | $19,041 2.77% | $22,673 -2.79% | $24,964 1.05% |
| 2019-20 | $18,691 5.43% | $21,194 -0.78% | $24,512 3.64% | $19,735 3.64% | $22,238 -1.92% | $25,556 2.37% |
| 2020-21 | $19,109 2.24% | $21,323 0.61% | $24,548 0.15% | $20,324 2.98% | $22,538 1.35% | $25,763 0.81% |
| 2021-22 | $19,354 1.28% | $21,648 1.52% | $24,914 1.49% | $20,690 1.80% | $22,984 1.98% | $26,250 1.89% |
| 2022-23 | $20,889 7.93% | $22,200 2.55% | $24,927 0.05% | $22,670 9.57% | $23,981 4.34% | $26,708 1.74% |
| 2023-24 | $21,435 2.61% | $22,577 1.70% | $25,951 4.11% | $23,224 2.44% | $24,366 1.61% | $27,740 3.86% |
| 2024-25 | $21,063 -1.74% | $23,238 2.93% | $28,268 8.93% | $22,578 -2.78% | $24,753 1.59% | $29,783 7.36% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for North Dakota Colleges is $9,006 for North Dakota residents and $11,181 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $16,567.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $10,531 for North Dakota residents and $11,928 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $12,000.
The tuition & fees has increased 0.87% for graduate programs at North Dakota Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $5,923 | $10,408 | $11,881 | $6,528 | $10,713 | $9,891 |
| 2016-17 | $6,016 1.57% | $10,660 2.42% | $12,094 1.79% | $6,716 2.88% | $10,976 2.45% | $13,601 37.51% |
| 2017-18 | $6,204 3.13% | $11,000 3.19% | $12,382 2.38% | $6,756 0.60% | $10,508 -4.26% | $11,734 -13.73% |
| 2018-19 | $6,443 3.85% | $10,075 -8.41% | $12,366 -0.13% | $6,948 2.84% | $9,373 -10.80% | $12,049 2.68% |
| 2019-20 | $6,836 6.10% | $9,339 -7.31% | $12,657 2.35% | $7,916 13.93% | $9,527 1.64% | $12,725 5.61% |
| 2020-21 | $7,140 4.45% | $9,354 0.16% | $12,579 -0.62% | $8,262 4.37% | $9,553 0.27% | $12,620 -0.83% |
| 2021-22 | $7,323 2.56% | $9,617 2.81% | $12,883 2.42% | $8,619 4.32% | $9,962 4.28% | $9,085 -28.01% |
| 2022-23 | $8,756 19.57% | $10,067 4.68% | $12,794 -0.69% | $8,697 0.90% | $10,091 1.29% | $10,238 12.69% |
| 2023-24 | $8,762 0.07% | $9,904 -1.62% | $13,278 3.78% | $11,212 28.92% | $10,467 3.73% | $10,075 -1.59% |
| 2024-25 | $7,708 -12.03% | $9,883 -0.21% | $14,913 12.31% | $9,409 -16.08% | $10,806 3.24% | $11,455 13.70% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,141 for North Dakota Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,111 |
| 2016-17 | $1,110 -0.09% |
| 2017-18 | $1,015 -8.56% |
| 2018-19 | $1,009 -0.59% |
| 2019-20 | $1,022 1.29% |
| 2020-21 | $966 -5.48% |
| 2021-22 | $969 0.31% |
| 2022-23 | $970 0.10% |
| 2023-24 | $968 -0.21% |
| 2024-25 | $1,141 17.87% |
For North Dakota Colleges, the living have increased 22.66% when a student lives on campus facilities and 20.84% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $9,619 | $10,070 |
| 2016-17 | $10,222 9.55% | $10,680 2.96% |
| 2017-18 | $10,507 1.97% | $10,865 4.47% |
| 2018-19 | $10,276 -1.35% | $10,795 3.39% |
| 2019-20 | $10,833 7.79% | $11,438 2.44% |
| 2020-21 | $11,003 2.16% | $11,787 1.94% |
| 2021-22 | $11,062 0.45% | $11,857 1.78% |
| 2022-23 | $11,163 0.40% | $12,135 3.61% |
| 2023-24 | $11,705 6.03% | $12,740 4.82% |
| 2024-25 | $12,214 4.46% | $12,960 4.25% |