Best colleges for Business Administration in North Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bismarck State College, University of Mary and University of North Dakota are the top bachelor's Business Administration programs in North Dakota by graduate earnings. Bismarck State College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,668, College Scorecard. North Dakota State University, University of Mary and University of North Dakota award the most Business Administration degrees in North Dakota: 233, 167 and 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 North Dakota colleges offer Business Administration and award 976 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public · Bachelor's degree | $100,668 | 48 | 47% | — | $15,452 |
| 2 | University of Mary Bismarck Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,057 | 167 | 67% | $16,753 | $27,654 |
| 3 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,776 | 105 | 60% | — | $23,000 |
| 4 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,830 | 69 | 51% | — | $27,197 |
| 5 | North Dakota State University Fargo Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,105 | 233 | 64% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | University of Jamestown Jamestown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,850 | 57 | 49% | $19,583 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Valley City State University Valley City Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,799 | 34 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Mayville State University Mayville Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,934 | 34 | 41% | — | $26,680 |
| 9 | Minot State University Minot Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,408 | 58 | 45% | — | $23,250 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williston State College Williston Public · Associate degree | $36,138 | 41 | 42% | — | $11,625 |
| 2 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public · Associate degree | $31,594 | 39 | 55% | — | $14,762 |
Colleges awarding the most Business Administration degrees in North Dakota
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State University Fargo Public | 233 | $48,105 |
| 2 | University of Mary Bismarck Private not-for-profit | 167 | $57,057 |
| 3 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public | 105 | $53,776 |
| 4 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public | 69 | $50,830 |
| 5 | Minot State University Minot Public | 58 | $44,408 |
| 6 | University of Jamestown Jamestown Private not-for-profit | 57 | $47,850 |
| 7 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public | 48 | $100,668 |
| 8 | Mayville State University Mayville Public | 34 | $44,934 |
| 9 | Valley City State University Valley City Public | 34 | $47,799 |
| 10 | Lake Region State College Devils Lake Public | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 North Dakota colleges offering Business Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston State College | Williston | Public | 41 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Public | 39 |
| United Tribes Technical College | Bismarck | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College | New Town | Public | 16 |
| Cankdeska Cikana Community College | Fort Totten | Public | 8 |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School | Ellendale | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Sitting Bull College | Fort Yates | Public | 6 |
| Turtle Mountain College | Belcourt | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in North Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business Administration programs in North Dakota.
Which North Dakota colleges award the most Business Administration degrees?+
North Dakota State University (233 graduates a year), University of Mary (167 graduates a year) and University of North Dakota (105 graduates a year) award the most Business Administration degrees in North Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 North Dakota colleges offer Business Administration.
What is the best college for Business Administration in North Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, Bismarck State College leads among bachelor's Business Administration programs in North Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,668, College Scorecard. University of Mary and University of North Dakota follow. By degrees awarded, North Dakota State University is the largest, with 233 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business Administration program in North Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bismarck State College tops the list at $100,668. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in North Dakota?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in North Dakota is $115,830 (median $98,170), across about 11,150 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business Administration program?+
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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