Bismarck State College Photo #4

Bismarck State College

1500 Edwards Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58506
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings
  • Bismarck State College (BSC), the third largest college in the North Dakota University System, is a comprehensive community college providing student-centered learning in these areas: transfer courses, technical programs, online classes and programs, corporate and continuing education, and workforce training. BSC is North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution offering 100+ career pathways leading to certificate, associate, and bachelor of applied science degrees. The BSC National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) is home to 12 nationally recognized energy industry degrees and training programs, and the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated BSC as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

School Highlights

Bismarck State College serves 4,549 students (51% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 14:1 is lower than the state community college average of 20:1.
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 28%.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • Enrollment: 4,549 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,417
  • Out-state tuition: $6,626
  • Acceptance Rate: 92%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Minority enrollment: 21%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Bismarck State College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Dakota for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Programs offered

School Overview

The teacher population of 471 teachers has grown by 26% over five years.
Bismarck State College
(ND) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional
Institution Level
Less than 2 yrs
Four or more years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
471 staff
14 staff
Number of Programs Offered
110
4
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Bismarck State College has grown by 22% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 14:1 has increased from 10:1 over five years.
The Bismarck State College diversity score of 0.41 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has grown by 118% over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,549 students
239 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
20:1
# Full-Time Students
2,309 students
127 students
# Part-Time Students
2,240 students
732 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
4,206 students
239 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
3,100 students
127 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
2,113 students
732 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
438 students
259 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
2%
3%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
2%
5%
% Black
3%
4%
% White
79%
72%
% Two or more races
6%
4%
% Non Resident races
1%
2%
% Unknown races
5%
8%
Diversity Score
0.41
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
32%
32%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
51%
51%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$45,500
$38,300

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,417 is less than the state average of $4,431. The in-state tuition has declined by 10% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,626 is less than the state average of $7,084. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,417
$4,431
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,626
$7,084
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
86%
91%
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,141
$10,947
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
92%
88%
SAT Total Avg.
1,465
1,535
SAT Reading
480
520
SAT Math
505
545
SAT Writing
480
470
ACT Total Avg.
63
64
ACT Composite
19
19
ACT English
18
18
ACT Math
19
20
ACT Writing
7
7

Sports

Total Sports Offered
7 sports
Sports
BaseballBasketball
Cross CountrySoftball
Track and FieldVolleyball
Wrestling
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Bismarck State College (BSC), the third largest college in the North Dakota University System, is a comprehensive community college providing student-centered learning in these areas: transfer courses, technical programs, online classes and programs, corporate and continuing education, and workforce training.BSC is North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution offering 100+ career pathwaysleading tocertificate, associate and bachelor of applied science degrees. The BSC National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) is home to 12 nationally recognized energy industry degree and training programs andThe National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security has designated BSC as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Bismarck State College cost?
Bismarck State College's tuition is approximately $4,417 for In-State students and $6,626 for Out-State students.
What schools are Bismarck State College often compared to?
Bismarck State Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Dakota College at Bottineau by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of Bismarck State College?
The acceptance rate of Bismarck State College is 92%, which is higher than the state average of 88%.
What sports does Bismarck State College offer?
Bismarck State College offers 7 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling.
What is Bismarck State College's ranking?
Bismarck State College ranks among the top 20% of community college in North Dakota for: Largest student body and Most Programs Offered.

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • Enrollment: 4,549 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,417
  • Out-state tuition: $6,626
  • Acceptance Rate: 92%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Minority enrollment: 21%
  • Source: Verified school update

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