Computer and Information Sciences at Minot State University

North Dakota's tech sector pays well, with comparable Computer Science bachelor's programs in the state producing median first-year earnings around $65,020—notably higher than the national figure of $61,322 used to estimate outcomes here. With estimated debt of $24,105, Minot State appears positioned below both state and national debt benchmarks, which matters when you're looking at a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's solid territory for a technical degree, where graduates typically earn enough to manage their loans comfortably.

The challenge is uncertainty. Because Minot State's cohort data was too small to report, we're relying on national patterns rather than this program's actual track record. The University of North Dakota—the state's flagship with reported data—hits that $65,020 mark, and given that North Dakota has only seven programs total, regional employers may gravitate toward graduates from more established programs. Whether Minot State's Computer Science graduates match state averages or fall below remains unclear without their actual outcomes.

For parents, the estimated numbers suggest manageable debt for a field with strong earning potential, but you're betting on a program without a verified performance record. If your student has options at UND or other in-state programs with reported outcomes, those provide more certainty. If Minot State is the right fit for other reasons—location, size, support systems—the fundamentals still look reasonable for a tech degree, just with more question marks than you'd prefer.