Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in North Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Dakota, Valley City State University and Dakota College at Bottineau award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in North Dakota: 111, 106 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 North Dakota colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 1,033 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 3 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 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,948 | 111 | 60% | — | $24,901 |
| 2 | Mayville State University Mayville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,306 | 27 | 41% | — | $27,926 |
| 3 | Minot State University Minot Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,614 | 19 | 45% | — | $29,147 |
Top 4 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 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public · Associate degree | $33,358 | 307 | 47% | — | $12,000 |
| 2 | Williston State College Williston Public · Associate degree | $31,871 | 105 | 42% | — | $8,250 |
| 3 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public · Associate degree | $31,521 | 76 | 55% | — | $11,000 |
| 4 | Lake Region State College Devils Lake Public · Associate degree | $19,014 | 84 | 52% | — | $11,697 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public | 111 | $42,948 |
| 2 | Valley City State University Valley City Public | 106 | Not reported |
| 3 | Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau Public | 75 | Not reported |
| 4 | Turtle Mountain College Belcourt Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 5 | Mayville State University Mayville Public | 27 | $34,306 |
| 6 | University of Mary Bismarck Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 7 | Minot State University Minot Public | 19 | $44,614 |
| 8 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | North Dakota State University Fargo Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Trinity Bible College and Graduate School Ellendale Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 North Dakota colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | Public | 307 |
| Williston State College | Williston | Public | 105 |
| Lake Region State College | Devils Lake | Public | 84 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Public | 76 |
| Cankdeska Cikana Community College | Fort Totten | Public | 14 |
| Sitting Bull College | Fort Yates | Public | 10 |
| United Tribes Technical College | Bismarck | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College | New Town | Public | 7 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in North Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in North Dakota.
Which North Dakota colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
University of North Dakota (111 graduates a year), Valley City State University (106 graduates a year) and Dakota College at Bottineau (75 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in North Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 North Dakota colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in North Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Dakota tops the list at $42,948. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in North Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in North Dakota is $69,700 (median $63,430), across about 470 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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