Valley City State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 958 students.
About This School
Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota with approximately 958 undergraduate students enrolled. Valley City State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 99%. The average net price after financial aid is $11,890 per year. The graduation rate is 53%, and the typical graduate earns $41,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Valley City State University (VCSU) is a public university in Valley City, North Dakota, United States. It is part of the North Dakota University System. Founded in 1890 as Valley City State Normal School, a two-year teachers' college, it was authorized to confer bachelor's degrees in 1921 and changed its name to Valley City State Teachers College. With an expansion in programs outside teacher education after World War II, it became Valley City State College in 1963. In 1986, it was renamed State University of North Dakota-Valley City and a year later received its current name.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the low average debt at graduation ($11,761) and affordable net price make this one of the more financially accessible options you'll find, but a 48% graduation rate and 66% freshman retention rate suggest that a lot of students either struggle to finish or change course after year one. Worth considering if you're drawn to its education-focused roots or want a small, low-cost school in the region, but ask hard questions about academic support and why so many students leave before graduating.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 22% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (958 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in North Dakota
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND · Public
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND · Public
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, ND · Public
University of Mary
Bismarck, ND · Private nonprofit
Minot State University
Minot, ND · Public
North Dakota State College of Science
Wahpeton, ND · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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