Bismarck State College

Bismarck, ND · Public · 2,629 students · Visit Website

Bismarck State College is North Dakota's only polytechnic institution, emphasizing hands-on learning and career-focused programs, particularly in energy and technology fields. The college works closely with industry partners to develop curriculum and offer apprenticeship opportunities, helping students gain real-world experience and connect with employers. Many programs provide flexible learning options, including online and hybrid formats, designed to quickly equip students with in-demand skills for the North Dakota job market.

Programs Analyzed

10

Avg Grad Earnings

$57,864/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

72/100

Tuition (In-State)

$5,195/yr
Out-of-state: $7,279/yr

All Programs at Bismarck State College

10 trade programs at Bismarck State College, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.

Program Score Earnings Debt 10yr ROI AI Risk Job Market
Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
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84 $61,629/yr $10,500 117.6x Low Very Large
258 openings/yr
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
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81 $66,335/yr $20,479 64.2x High Very Large
292 openings/yr
Electrical Installation
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
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80 $48,853/yr $5,500 150.1x Low Very Large
230 openings/yr
Industrial Production Technology
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
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74 $82,310/yr $12,000 108.6x Moderate Large
69 openings/yr
Vehicle Repair Technology
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
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74 $44,309/yr $5,775 105.0x Low Very Large
214 openings/yr
Agricultural Business
Agricultural Business and Management
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71 $38,623/yr $12,000 56.0x High Very Large
398 openings/yr
Electrical Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
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70 $89,460/yr $11,892 108.8x High Medium
24 openings/yr
Electromechanical Technology
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
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70 $77,701/yr $12,000 102.0x Moderate Medium
26 openings/yr
Business
Business/Commerce, General
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69 $36,062/yr 38.0x High Very Large
832 openings/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
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50 $33,358/yr $10,887 47.2x Low Medium
13 openings/yr

Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.

More Trade Schools in North Dakota

Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in North Dakota, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.

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Apprenticeship Pathways in North Dakota

Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in North Dakota. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.

Browse all apprenticeship trades →

Trade Schools Near Bismarck

Other cities in North Dakota with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Bismarck.

About This Data

TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 10 trade and vocational programs at Bismarck State College using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2026.