North Dakota doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 7 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 7 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Valley City came out on top.
The 7 Best College Towns In North Dakota For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where North Dakota's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | Valley City State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 958 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 6,541 |
| Median rent | $780 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,468 |
Valley City is home to Valley City State University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $780 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,468 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,981 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 59,042 |
| Median rent | $980 |
| Graduation rate | 62% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,605 |
Grand Forks is home to University of North Dakota. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $980 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,605 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Minot State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,062 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 47,791 |
| Median rent | $973 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,339 |
Minot is home to Minot State University. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $973 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,339 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | North Dakota State University-Main Campus, Rasmussen University-North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,523 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 131,627 |
| Median rent | $946 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,716 |
Fargo is home to North Dakota State University-Main Campus, Rasmussen University-North Dakota. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $946 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,716 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Bismarck State College, University of Mary, United Tribes Technical College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,824 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 75,556 |
| Median rent | $999 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,251 |
Bismarck is home to Bismarck State College, University of Mary, United Tribes Technical College. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $999 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,251 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Jamestown |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,041 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,787 |
| Median rent | $773 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $38,013 |
Jamestown is home to University of Jamestown. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $773 a month, and the average cost to attend is $38,013 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Dickinson State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,090 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 25,357 |
| Median rent | $957 |
| Graduation rate | 49% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,567 |
Dickinson is home to Dickinson State University. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $957 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,567 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in North Dakota
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 7 towns in North Dakota that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in North Dakota.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in North Dakota.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In North Dakota
If you're looking for the best college towns in North Dakota, Valley City is where to start.
The best college towns in North Dakota are Valley City, Grand Forks, Minot, Fargo, Bismarck, Jamestown, and Dickinson.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in North Dakota for 2026?
Valley City is the best college town in North Dakota for 2026, followed by Grand Forks and Minot.
How did you rank the best college towns in North Dakota?
We looked at every town in North Dakota with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in North Dakota?
Dickinson ranks last of the 7 college towns we ranked in North Dakota for 2026.
Best College Towns In North Dakota For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley City, ND | 6,541 | 958 | $780 |
| 2 | Grand Forks, ND | 59,042 | 9,981 | $980 |
| 3 | Minot, ND | 47,791 | 2,062 | $973 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | 131,627 | 9,523 | $946 |
| 5 | Bismarck, ND | 75,556 | 5,824 | $999 |
| 6 | Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 1,041 | $773 |
| 7 | Dickinson, ND | 25,357 | 1,090 | $957 |
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