The recent boom in oil drilling in North Dakota has drawn many people to the state to work and find their fortune in "black gold."
And while this economic boom bodes well for graduates in North Dakota looking for jobs after college, that's certainly not the only thing that the state has going for it.
Even just on the economic side, oil is not even the biggest part of the state economy. Agriculture plays a bigger role, and food processing and technology also figure as major sectors. All in all, this has made North Dakota the state with the fastest growing GDP and the highest rate of job creation. Not so bad.
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How much money can you make with a degree from North Dakota?
Speaking of money, let's talk numbers! According to the U.S. Census in 2016, the median household income for folks living in North Dakota was $60,656. That's a handsome $3k more than the average U.S. median income.
Based on the average incomes for graduates of North Dakota State University, it's clear that a bachelor's degree will push you ahead of the pack. For example, those with a BS degree earn on average $62,050. North Dakota students with a bachelor's degree in engineering enjoy an annual salary of nearly $75,000. Education in North Dakota translates directly into a higher income.
What can you do with a degree from North Dakota?
But it's not all about money, either. In the long run, we're all just looking for a career that is meaningful. Something that contributes to the larger good of our community and state. In North Dakota, you'll find that the leading industries include:
Agricultural Manufacturing
Construction
Education
Pipeline Transportation
That means you'll have the best luck finding work in some of these areas. Even more, North Dakota has a large U.S. Air Force base in Ward County. This is a hub for both education and employment. So, if you're considering going to college in North Dakota, you'll be sure to find something for you, and a job waiting for you afterwards, if you're willing to put in some effort.
What are the Best Colleges in North Dakota?
With this ranking, we've collated the all of the colleges and universities in North Dakota and used a data aggregation method in order to rank them. Our ranking criteria are based on three factors:
Institutional Excellence
Student Satisfaction
Return on Investment
In other words, we're looking for statistical evidence that students are being educated well, are enjoying their collegiate experience, and that their tuition money is well-spent and will improve their earning prospects later on. Data comes from IPEDS, U.S. News & World Report, Payscale, individual college websites, and student ranking sites. Related: Best Online Schools in North Dakota.
North Dakota can lay claim to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Norwegian Autumn Festival (the largest Scandinavian gathering of any kind in North America), and the most churches per capita of any other state. But perhaps most importantly, the state is home to the following stand-out colleges and universities.
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
