Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at North Dakota State College of Science

This program sits in an unusual position: graduates earn solidly above the national median for industrial production tech programs ($59,489 versus $56,704 nationwide), yet lag behind other North Dakota options by a significant margin. The state's median for this field is $70,900, and Bismarck State College—the clear leader—places graduates at $82,310. That $23,000 gap is too large to ignore, especially since this program ranks only in the 25th percentile statewide.

The debt picture offers a silver lining. At $18,609, students here borrow modestly—well below the 50th percentile nationally and manageable against first-year earnings (0.31 ratio). However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing considerably year to year, making this snapshot less reliable than data from larger programs.

For an anxious parent weighing North Dakota options, the question is straightforward: why not Bismarck State? If location or program specifics make NDSCS the better fit, the debt burden won't crush your child. But if maximizing earning potential matters most and Bismarck is accessible, the $23,000 difference in starting salary compounds quickly over a career. This isn't a bad program—it just faces tough in-state competition.