Valley City State University
Valley City, ND 58072
About Valley City State University
Valley City State University is a public research university in Valley City, North Dakota, enrolling about 958 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 99.07% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $52,725 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Valley City State University charges 54% above the national public median tuition ($8,514).
- Versus the North Dakota median, sticker tuition is 21% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 53.33%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $52,725.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Valley City State University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1009% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley City State University | $8,514 | $11,890 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| North Dakota (state median) | $7,054 | $11,358 | 20 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Valley City State University really?
Key findings
- Valley City State University charges 54% above the national public median tuition ($8,514).
- Versus the North Dakota median, sticker tuition is 21% above.
Valley City State University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,514
Finding Valley City State University charges 54% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,514. That is 54% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the North Dakota median ($7,054), sticker tuition is 21% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 28% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Valley City State University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Valley City State University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Valley City State University is $11,890.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $11,890 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $532 above the North Dakota median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $3,081 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Valley City State University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Valley City State University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Valley City State University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$8,514
Out-of-state tuition
$13,544
Avg. net price
$11,890
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $7,879 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $7,787 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,841 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,538 |
| $110,001+ | $14,570 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,056. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Valley City State University is known for
Top program completions
- Elementary Education and Teaching92
- General Studies88
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education36
- Reading Teacher Education35
- Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management21
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 57% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1041
- Midpoint ACT: 20
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Valley City State University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Valley City State University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Valley City State University.
Campus
Location
Valley City, ND
City / state
- ZIP
- 58072
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 21% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
958
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,055
- Graduate
- 155
- Full-time share
- 82%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,369
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 16.89%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Valley City State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Valley City State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Valley City State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,516 | $14,596 | $11,664 |
| 2014 | $6,674 | $15,070 | $11,711 |
| 2015 | $6,800 | $15,406 | $11,610 |
| 2016 | $7,196 | $16,016 | $11,920 |
| 2017 | $7,406 | $16,579 | $12,565 |
| 2018 | $7,626 | $17,166 | $11,737 |
| 2019 | $7,707 | $12,120 | $11,981 |
| 2020 | $7,942 | $12,532 | $11,676 |
| 2021 | $8,195 | $12,969 | $13,060 |
| 2022 | $8,458 | $13,422 | $11,672 |
| 2023 | $8,514 | $13,478 | $13,613 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1041 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 20 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Valley City State University reported total enrollment of about 958 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (80.2%), Two or More Races (5.7%), and Black or African American (3.9%). About 16.89% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 26.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Valley City State University in 2024 is 958 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,055 students. Graduate enrollment is about 155 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
37.33% 100% Completion Time
53.33% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 37.33% of students graduating from Valley City State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 3% male / 97% female
- General Studies: 36% male / 64% female
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education: 22% male / 78% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Valley City State University graduates earn a median of $52,725 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Valley City State University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $52,725. Median federal loan debt: $20,369. Average net price used in cost models: $11,890.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Valley City State University graduates report median earnings of $52,725 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Valley City State University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (45 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Valley City State University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Valley City State University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Valley City State University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$12.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- North Dakota median 0.89× the median ($13.6M)
- Plains median 0.50× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 0.46× the median ($26.4M)
- North Dakota median 0.65× the median ($15,879)
- Plains median 0.69× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 0.86× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 50.7%
- North Dakota median 37.1 pp below median (87.8%)
- Plains median 14.0 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 7.3 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,935
- North Dakota median near the median ($7,206)
- Plains median near the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 0.91× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,718
- North Dakota median 1.6× the median ($9,323)
- Plains median 1.8× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Valley City State University at a glance
Valley City State University
Valley City State University is a public institution in Valley City, ND, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Elementary Education and TeachingGeneral StudiesTechnology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian80.2%Two or More Races5.7%Black or African American3.9%
Schools near Valley City State University
Other campuses in Valley City, ND when available, plus nearby institutions in North Dakota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within North Dakota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Valley City State University located?
Valley City State University is located in Valley City, ND.
What is Valley City State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Valley City State University is 99.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 492 applicants and 341 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Valley City State University's tuition?
Valley City State University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,514 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $11,890 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Valley City State University cost?
Reported tuition is $8,514 and average net price is $11,890 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,580 annually.
What explains Valley City State University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($11,890), completion (53.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($52,725). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Valley City State University?
Valley City State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,055 students, White (80.2%), Two or More Races (5.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Valley City State University?
About 26.2% of students at Valley City State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Valley City State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Valley City State University reports midpoint SAT about 1041 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Valley City State University earn?
Median earnings are $45,820 six years after entry and $52,725 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Valley City State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Valley City State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,369.
Is Valley City State University public or private?
Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, ND.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.