Dickinson State University
DSU
Dickinson, North Dakota 58601-4896
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Known for business — close-knit campus
Dickinson State University is a public institution in Dickinson with particular strength in business and health sciences.
A small campus of 1.1K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.
43% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $50,720 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $15,270.
More About This School
Varsity Sports — Blue Hawks
History & Fun Facts
- •The university considers June 24, 1918, to be its founding date; this was the first day of classes for the Dickinson Normal School.
- •The first campus building, May Hall, was built in 1924.
- •Enrollment and graduation controversies In 2011 and 2012, Dickinson State attracted negative attention for some of its academic and business practices.
- •In 2011, the university was discovered to have overstated its enrollments by practices such as counting people as students who had merely attended a conference on the campus.
Source: Wikipedia
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Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
61.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
0.5%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$11,960
Programs (64)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
60%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
6
Peer Average
13
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from ND state average