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BSC earns high value ranking in two recent national studies

Published: Nov 25 2019
BSC earns high value ranking in two recent national studies - Photo
According to two recent national studies, graduates of Bismarck State College will earn more over their lifetimes and leave college with significantly less debt than students attending other North Dakota institutions.
 
The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard report identifies BSC as the most affordable college in the state with graduates leaving with significantly less federal student loan debt than graduates of other colleges.
 
The typical debt for a BSC graduate is $10,500. Students attending the other top colleges (University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and University of Mary) take on twice the federal loan debt ranging from $21,000 to $24,000.
 
BSC Director of Financial Aid Scott Lingen says that federal student loans are capped annually, and the amount of federal aid available for a student is the same no matter the cost of the college they choose. “What isn’t noted in this report is the amount of private loans students must take to cover the remainder of their college costs. BSC has very few students who need private loans because our tuition is so low. Every dollar goes farther at BSC,” he says.
 
Private lenders are not required to share student loan information with the U.S. Department of Education.
 
A second study by Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) used the College Scorecard study to rank colleges nationwide on their return on investment (ROI) for graduates.
 
In North Dakota, BSC ranks number one in Net Present Value (NPV) at every point measured – 10 years out, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years into the future.  According to the CEW, NPV estimates future cash flows, both earnings and costs,adjusts them for inflation, and restates the net in today’s dollars.
 
The report uses expanded College Scorecard data to calculate the net present value (NPV) of a credential from 4,500 colleges, including traditional two-year and four-year public and private colleges, as well as for-profit colleges and training academies. CEW also developed an online table of the 4,500 colleges that allows users to sort data on tuition, median student debt, and median earnings for each institution.
 
“Both of these studies tell us that we’re helping students find great careers at an extremely affordable price point,” says BSC President Dr. Larry C. Skogen. “We set our students up to succeed in every way. It’s wonderful to see that validated by these national rankings.”
 
Find the College Scorecard report for North Dakota here or go to collegescorecard.ed.gov and search for North Dakota.
 
Read more about the Georgetown University report here.