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Program Rankings · North Dakota

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in North Dakota

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

19
Colleges Ranked
14
4-Year Programs
14
Public Colleges
North Dakota
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
55
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo · Public · 4-year
96% accept64% grad rate$9,309 in-state9 graduates/yr
#384 nationally
2
52
University of Jamestown
Jamestown · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
94% accept44% grad rate3 graduates/yr
#1287 nationally
3
46
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
New Town · Public · 4-year
100% grad rate$3,600 in-state12 graduates/yr
#132 nationally
#4
43
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
42 graduates/yr
#221 nationally
#5
40
Williston State College
Williston · Public · 2-year
$3,310 in-state411 graduates/yr
#1884 nationally
#6
40
Turtle Mountain Community College
Belcourt · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
33% grad rate114 graduates/yr
#731 nationally
#7
39
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Ellendale · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
36% accept43% grad rate3 graduates/yr
#537 nationally
#8
38
Bismarck State College
Bismarck · Public · 4-year
$4,167 in-state711 graduates/yr
#1597 nationally
#9
38
Lake Region State College
Devils Lake · Public · 2-year
$4,250 in-state288 graduates/yr
#1598 nationally
#10
38
North Dakota State College of Science
Wahpeton · Public · 2-year
$4,997 in-state249 graduates/yr
#1289 nationally
#11
37
University of Mary
Bismarck · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
78% accept68% grad rate81 graduates/yr
#1288 nationally
#12
37
Dakota College at Bottineau
Bottineau · Public · 2-year
$4,530 in-state216 graduates/yr
#1871 nationally
#13
36
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Fort Totten · Public · 2-year
$3,600 in-state45 graduates/yr
#2691 nationally
#14
36
Sitting Bull College
Fort Yates · Public · 4-year
$3,600 in-state30 graduates/yr
#2703 nationally
#15
34
Mayville State University
Mayville · Public · 4-year
42% grad rate$6,579 in-state60 graduates/yr
#2884 nationally
About Liberal Arts Programs in North Dakota

North Dakota offers 19 accredited liberal arts programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in liberal arts.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Liberal Arts in North Dakota is North Dakota State University-Main Campus. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.

Explore Other Majors in North Dakota