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.
North Dakota Colleges Key COA Trends (2016-2025)
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at North Dakota colleges:
- On-Campus: The COA has risen by 9.93%.
- Off-Campus: The COA has risen by 11.27%.
- 2024-2025 Total COA: the average total COA is $23,238 when living on campus and $24,753 when living off campus.
North Dakota Colleges Tuition & Fees Changes
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.
Living and Other Costs
Living Costs (Room & Board, Other Expenses):
- At North Dakota colleges, living costs increased by 26.98% for on-campus and 27.99% for off-campus.
- The average living cost for 2024-2025 is $12,214 (on-campus) and $13,729 (off-campus).
Books & Supplies:
- Books and supplies costs have remained relatively stable (2.70%), with the average cost for 2024-2025 being $1,141.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends
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.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends of North Dakota Colleges
| 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% |
|---|
Tuition & Fees Changes
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.
Tuition & Fees Changes for North Dakota Colleges
| 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% |
|---|
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
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.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes for North Dakota Colleges
| 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% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
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.
Living Costs Changes for North Dakota Colleges
| 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% |
|---|