Valley City State University
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,343 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 33.7 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
What do students really think?
You have seen the federal numbers for Valley City State University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.
Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.
Why it is good
- Affordable: the average student pays about $13,748 a year after grants, cheaper than 76% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
- Many students leave early: only 71% of first-year students return for a second year.
- Earnings trail expectations by about $17,562 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 96 | $37,537 | $18,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 41 | $43,000 | $20,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 22 | $38,289 | $23,319 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 14 | $38,289 | $15,281 |
| Music | 11 | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Human Services, General | 6 | $38,289 | n/a |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| History | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 5 | n/a | n/a |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 8 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 52 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 37 | n/a | n/a |
| Marketing | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 5 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Valley City State University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.