DSU vs. University of North Dakota

Should I go to Dickinson State University or University of North Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DSU or University of North Dakota is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Dickinson State University vs. University of North Dakota comparison
Dickinson State University University of North Dakota College 3 College 4
Dickinson State University University of North Dakota
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Overview

DSU University of North Dakota
Location Dickinson, ND Grand Forks, ND
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 1,473 13,876
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #736 #384
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dickinsonstate.com und.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

DSU University of North Dakota
Tuition (In State) $7,470 $9,237
Tuition (Out of State) $9,570 $13,856
Room & Board $7,740 $10,170
Avg Net Price $14,971 $17,359
Avg Grant Aid $5,391 $6,387
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 86%

Admission

DSU University of North Dakota
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 729 6,597
Admitted 525 5,494
Acceptance Rate 72% 83.3%
Enrolled % 46.1% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.11 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 20/26
SAT Range 875/1130 1110/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2025

Academics

DSU University of North Dakota
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (42%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (14%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

DSU University of North Dakota
Graduation Rate 26% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,800 $54,700
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,781 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $194 $253

Diversity

DSU University of North Dakota
% Men 45% 50%
% Women 55% 50%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

DSU University of North Dakota
% In-State 51% 38%
% Out-of-State 46% 60%

Campus

DSU University of North Dakota
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Dakota is larger than than DSU based on total student enrollment (13,876 students vs. 1,473 students)

DSU vs. University of North Dakota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSU or University of North Dakota?

  • University of North Dakota is 23.7% more expensive to attend than DSU for in-state tuition ($9,237.00 vs. $7,470.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.8% higher at University of North Dakota than Dickinson State University ($13,856.00 vs. $9,570.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dickinson State University than University of North Dakota ($14,971 vs. $17,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson State University are 31.4% lower than costs at University of North Dakota ($7,740 vs. $10,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dickinson State University than University of North Dakota (92% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Dakota students is 18.5% larger than aid received Dickinson State University ($6,387 vs. $5,391)

DSU vs. University of North Dakota Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DSU or University of North Dakota? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of North Dakota or DSU .

  • The average SAT score at University of North Dakota (1088) is 137 points higher than at DSU (951)
  • Incoming University of North Dakota students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at DSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman University of North Dakota students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at DSU (3.11)
  • University of North Dakota has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than DSU (72%)

DSU vs. University of North Dakota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DSU or University of North Dakota? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of North Dakota and DSU.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Dakota is higher than Dickinson State University (54% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from University of North Dakota earn on average $7,900 more per year than DSU graduates after ten years. ($54,700 vs. $46,800)
  • Dickinson State University students graduate with a $5,719 lower median federal student loan debt than University of North Dakota graduates. ($18,781 vs. $24,500)
  • DSU graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than University of North Dakota graduates. ($194 vs. $253)
  • More DSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of North Dakota students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/