Valley City State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Valley City, North Dakota. It enrolls 958 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes32
Value88
Affordability49
Selectivity7
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.1%, Valley City State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
830 – 1070
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Valley City State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
6.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Valley City State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,890 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,890
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,514
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,544
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,580
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,580
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,358
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,358
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,468
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,879
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,787
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,841
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,538
Over $110,000
$14,570
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,369Medianpercentile
$21,32875%percentile
$27,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,398
↓ $8,971
No Pell $12,000
↓ $8,369
Dependent students $11,402
↓ $8,967
Independent students $12,500
↓ $7,869
Female students $11,623
↓ $8,746
Male students $11,644
↓ $8,725
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,569, less than completers ($20,369), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at Valley City State University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Valley City State University earn a median of $52,725 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,725
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Valley City State University is home to 958 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
958
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
26%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.2%768
Other 7.7%74
Black 3.9%37
Hispanic 3.2%31
International 3.0%29
Asian 0.9%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Valley City State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteValley City, North Dakota
Housing
Mostly residential462 beds on campus
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Valley City State University offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Valley City State University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,594
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,043
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
15
21%
$78,197
Associate Professors
14
19%
$62,177
Assistant Professors
42
58%
$53,476
Instructors
1
1%
$49,216
Lecturers
1
1%
$44,500
Pros & Cons of Valley City State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Valley City State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Valley City State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Valley City State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Valley City State University.
Is Valley City State University hard to get into?
Valley City State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Valley City State University?
Valley City State University has an acceptance rate of 99.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Valley City State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Valley City State University scored between 830 and 1070 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Valley City State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Valley City State University scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Valley City State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Valley City State University is $11,890 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Valley City State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,725 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,890 per year. That's roughly 4.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Valley City State University known for?
Valley City State University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Teaching Specific Subjects, Teaching Specific Subjects. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Valley City State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Valley City State University are $52,725, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Valley City State University accredited?
Yes. Valley City State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Valley City State University?
Valley City State University enrolls 958 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Valley City State University?
Valley City State University graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Valley City State University a public or private college?
Valley City State University is a Public institution.
Where is Valley City State University located?
Valley City State University is located in Valley City, North Dakota.
What programs does Valley City State University offer?
Valley City State University offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Teaching Specific Subjects, Teaching Specific Subjects.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Valley City State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Valley City State University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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