North Dakota State University-Main Campus vs University of Colorado Colorado Springs

North Dakota State University-Main Campus and University of Colorado Colorado Springs are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: North Dakota State University-Main Campus is more selective with a 95.8% acceptance rate compared to University of Colorado Colorado Springs's 96.6%. Average SAT scores are 1120 and 1140 respectively.

Cost: North Dakota State University-Main Campus offers a lower average net price at $16,334, which is $97 less than University of Colorado Colorado Springs ($16,431). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from North Dakota State University-Main Campus earn a median salary of $62,203 ten years after enrollment, which is $7,544 more than University of Colorado Colorado Springs graduates ($54,659).

Graduation: North Dakota State University-Main Campus leads with a 63.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 76.9% vs 67.1%.

Campus Size: North Dakota State University-Main Campus is the larger campus with 9,567 total students, while University of Colorado Colorado Springs has 8,870.

Bottom Line: North Dakota State University-Main Campus stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.