Best colleges for Registered Nursing in North Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Mayville State University, University of Jamestown and University of North Dakota are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in North Dakota by graduate earnings. Mayville State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,525, College Scorecard. University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and University of Mary award the most Registered Nursing degrees in North Dakota: 226, 204 and 127 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 North Dakota colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 965 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 7 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 | Mayville State University Mayville Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,525 | 27 | 41% | — | $28,250 |
| 2 | University of Jamestown Jamestown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,094 | 24 | 49% | $19,583 | $28,000 |
| 3 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,097 | 226 | 60% | — | $25,792 |
| 4 | Minot State University Minot Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,522 | 57 | 45% | — | $27,111 |
| 5 | University of Mary Bismarck Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,453 | 127 | 67% | $16,753 | $28,578 |
| 6 | North Dakota State University Fargo Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,821 | 204 | 64% | — | $30,500 |
| 7 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $68,151 | 7 | 51% | — | $31,000 |
Top 6 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 | Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau Public · Associate degree | $71,421 | 32 | 48% | — | $28,334 |
| 2 | Lake Region State College Devils Lake Public · Associate degree | $68,214 | 59 | 52% | — | $27,310 |
| 3 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public · Associate degree | $66,335 | 48 | 47% | — | $25,382 |
| 4 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public · Associate degree | $59,229 | 36 | 55% | — | $30,098 |
| 5 | Rasmussen University - North Dakota Fargo Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,119 | 102 | 29% | $18,815 | $30,500 |
| 6 | Williston State College Williston Public · Associate degree Small program | $60,944 | 16 | 42% | — | $22,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in North Dakota
Top 7 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 | 226 | $73,097 |
| 2 | North Dakota State University Fargo Public | 204 | $70,821 |
| 3 | University of Mary Bismarck Private not-for-profit | 127 | $72,453 |
| 4 | Minot State University Minot Public | 57 | $72,522 |
| 5 | Mayville State University Mayville Public | 27 | $77,525 |
| 6 | University of Jamestown Jamestown Private not-for-profit | 24 | $74,094 |
| 7 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public | 7 | $68,151 |
ShowHide the other 6 North Dakota colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen University - North Dakota | Fargo | Private for-profit | 102 |
| Lake Region State College | Devils Lake | Public | 59 |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | Public | 48 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Public | 36 |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | Bottineau | Public | 32 |
| Williston State College | Williston | Public | 16 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in North Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in North Dakota.
Which North Dakota colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of North Dakota (226 graduates a year), North Dakota State University (204 graduates a year) and University of Mary (127 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in North Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 North Dakota colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in North Dakota?+
By graduate earnings, Mayville State University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in North Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,525, College Scorecard. University of Jamestown and University of North Dakota follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Dakota is the largest, with 226 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in North Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Mayville State University tops the list at $77,525. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in North Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in North Dakota is $83,600 (median $80,730), across about 11,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 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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