Home / Worth-It Scores / North Dakota / Valley City State
Is Valley City State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Valley City State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Valley City State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $20,369 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $52,725, but the margin is not huge. For context, Valley City State's net price is about 5% above the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$13,841
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $687 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $3,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$11,890
Median earnings 10 years out
$52,725
Median debt at graduation
$20,369
Graduation rate
51%
At Valley City State, a typical graduate carries about $20,369 in student debt and earns roughly $52,725 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $232 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Valley City State is a public four year school in Valley City, ND. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Mayville State
Mayville, ND
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $11,456
Public 4-year
Minot State
Minot, ND
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $12,703
Public 4-year
Dickinson State
Dickinson, ND
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $14,092
Public 4-year
North Dakota State University-
Fargo, ND
Worth-It Score: 74/100
Median net price: $15,543
Public 4-year
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $18,551
Common questions about Valley City State
The median net price at Valley City State is $11,890 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in North Dakota? See the most affordable public universities in North Dakota →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →