NDSU vs. UTC

Should I go to North Dakota State University Main Campus or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NDSU or UTC 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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North Dakota State University Main Campus vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
North Dakota State University Main Campus The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
North Dakota State University Main Campus The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

NDSU UTC
Location Fargo, ND Chattanooga, TN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 12,242 11,283
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #568 #788
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ndsu.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NDSU UTC
Tuition (In State) $9,309 $7,992
Tuition (Out of State) $13,963 $24,110
Room & Board $9,300 $9,500
Avg Net Price $15,962 $14,417
Avg Grant Aid $5,732 $9,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 94%

Admission

NDSU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,535 8,345
Admitted 8,166 6,897
Acceptance Rate 95.7% 82.6%
Enrolled % 30.8% 32.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 20/26
SAT Range 968/1216 1023/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

NDSU UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

NDSU UTC
Graduation Rate 54% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,600 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,300 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $240 $214

Diversity

NDSU UTC
% Men 49% 42%
% Women 51% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 75%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

NDSU UTC
% In-State 35% 89%
% Out-of-State 65% 11%

Campus

NDSU UTC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than UTC based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 11,283 students)

NDSU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NDSU or UTC?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 16.5% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $7,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 72.7% higher at UTC than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($24,110.00 vs. $13,963.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than NDSU ($14,417 vs. $15,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 2.2% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($9,300 vs. $9,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than North Dakota State University Main Campus (94% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students is 62.4% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($9,309 vs. $5,732)

NDSU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 4 points higher than at UTC (1087)
  • Incoming NDSU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at UTC (24)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at NDSU (3.53)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than UTC (82.6%)

NDSU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NDSU or UTC? 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 UTC and NDSU.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (54% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $13,000 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $2,508 lower median federal student loan debt than NDSU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $23,300)
  • UTC graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than NDSU graduates. ($214 vs. $240)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 56%)

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