Best Software Engineering Schools Near Bismarck, ND (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Bismarck, North Dakota is home to about 74,146 residents. Median household income is $77,608 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Bismarck, ND metro area, the top-earning software engineering-related role is Computer and Information Systems Managers at a median $151,020 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Software Engineering Schools to Bismarck

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer software engineering programs near Bismarck, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Bismarck city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Bismarck. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Valley City State University

Valley City, ND 130.8 miles from Bismarck
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
53.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 99%
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,725
Avg net price $11,890/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,514
Out‑of‑state$13,544
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Rasmussen University-North Dakota

Fargo, ND 185.3 miles from Bismarck
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
70.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,080
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 100%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND 187.6 miles from Bismarck
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
69.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 95%
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,203
Avg net price $15,543/yr
Tuition
In‑state$11,110
Out‑of‑state$15,764
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 144

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Dakota schools on the North Dakota software engineering page.

Software Engineering Wages Near Bismarck

Bismarck is part of the Bismarck, ND metro area (BLS area code 13900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Dakota statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developers $106,020 Bismarck, ND $116,505
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $83,920 Bismarck, ND $92,220
Computer Programmers $83,160 Bismarck, ND $91,385
Web Developers $72,190 ND statewide $79,330
Computer and Information Systems Managers $151,020 Bismarck, ND $165,956
Computer Occupations, All Other $86,840 Bismarck, ND $95,429
Computer Network Architects $113,400 Bismarck, ND $124,615
Computer Systems Analysts $106,700 Bismarck, ND $117,253

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Bismarck at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 74,146 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $77,608 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 38.7% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 91.0 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Bismarck-Area Cities With Software Engineering Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying software engineering roles near Bismarck?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying software engineering-related roles near Bismarck are: Computer and Information Systems Managers ($151,020), Computer Network Architects ($113,400), Computer Systems Analysts ($106,700). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Dakota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Mandan instead of Bismarck?

Mandan, ND is 5.5 miles from Bismarck and has its own set of local software engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Bismarck an affordable place to study software engineering?

Bismarck’s median household income of $77,608 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bismarck while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Dakota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Software Engineering Programs

Other Programs Available in Bismarck

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Bismarck:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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