North Dakota State College of Science

About North Dakota State College of Science

North Dakota State College of Science is a public community college located in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The institution is classified by the U.S. Department of Education as predominantly an associate-degree-granting two-year college, the federal definition that anchors this site's index of community colleges nationwide. Like other two-year colleges in North Dakota, it primarily serves local residents who are pursuing an occupational credential, an associate degree, or transfer-eligible general-education credit toward a bachelor's degree.

16% of undergraduates received a federal Pell Grant in the most recent reporting year — a useful proxy for the share of the student body from lower-income households. Median federal student-loan debt at completion was $12,000, well below national averages for four-year institutions. Tuition and aid are reported here as published rates from the College Scorecard; the price you actually pay can be considerably lower once you file the FAFSA and your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid is calculated. For most community-college students, the realistic out-of-pocket cost after Pell and state grants is a small fraction of the published tuition.

Outcomes

North Dakota State College of Science did not report a transfer rate to the College Scorecard in the most recent reporting cycle. Ask the admissions office directly for the share of full-time first-time entrants who continued at a four-year institution. The reported 150% on-time completion rate is 55%. Completion at two-year colleges is consistently lower than at four-year institutions because the population includes large numbers of part-time, working, and adult learners — but a higher completion rate within a given state is a meaningful sign of student-services investment. Median earnings of former students ten years after first enrollment, as matched against federal tax records, were $50,513. This figure includes graduates, transfers, and non-completers, so treat it as a directional indicator of post-college outcomes rather than a starting-salary projection.

Largest program areas

The federal classification of instructional programs reports the share of degrees and certificates each college awards by field. At North Dakota State College of Science the highest-enrollment areas are listed below in descending order by share of credentials awarded, with each linking to a plain-English program guide.

• Health Sciences & Nursing — Two-year nursing, allied health, and medical assisting programs that lead directly to in-demand clinical careers. (20% of credentials awarded)
• Construction Trades — Apprenticeship-aligned electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and building-tech programs. (16% of credentials awarded)
• Mechanic & Repair Technologies — Automotive, HVAC, diesel, and aviation maintenance certificate and degree tracks. (14% of credentials awarded)
• Liberal Arts & Humanities — Broad transfer-oriented general education preparing students for a four-year degree. (13% of credentials awarded)
• Engineering Technology — Hands-on technician training in mechatronics, electronics, and industrial systems. (9% of credentials awarded)
• Business & Marketing — Associate degrees and certificates in accounting, management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. (3% of credentials awarded)

Is North Dakota State College of Science the right fit?

Use the lists in the sidebar to compare against neighboring community colleges in North Dakota on the metrics that matter for your situation. Students aiming to transfer should weigh transfer rate, completion rate, and the strength of articulation agreements with the four-year institutions they plan to apply to. Students pursuing a terminal credential should weigh program availability and the local employment market for that field, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook as a national reference and the state workforce agency for North Dakota for regional wages and openings.

The data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which is updated annually from IPEDS reporting and federal financial-aid records. DegreeMapper reformats and cross-links that data; we do not collect it ourselves and we are not affiliated with North Dakota State College of Science or with any government agency.