How Much Income Do North Dakota Families Spend On College?

North Dakota ranks among the least expensive states for college, placing 48th out of 49 states analyzed for how much residents spend on higher education as a share of median household income, according to a new WalletHub report released Thursday.

WalletHub compared the cost of in-state undergraduate tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses to each state’s median household income. Only Utah ranked cheaper than North Dakota.

North Dakota families spend an average of 33.09% of their median household income on a year of public college, far below the national leaders in cost. Pennsylvania ranked as the most expensive state, with higher education expenses consuming 72.48% of median household income. Rhode Island followed at 71.16%, and New York at 68.33%.

Neighboring states fared significantly higher than North Dakota. South Dakota ranked 44th (37.12%), Montana 37th (42.41%), and Minnesota 27th (45.97%). Nebraska was 24th at 47.65%.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said rising costs continue to strain families nationwide.

“College education is getting more and more difficult to afford, with cost increases well outpacing inflation. As a result, people have been forced to take out more and more loans, with the average student loan debt now standing at nearly $42,000,” Lupo said. “The good news is that living in certain states and attending a school with in-state tuition can greatly defray the cost of undergraduate education, minimizing the amount students need to borrow.”

States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Education

Overall Rank*	State	Cost of Education as a Share of Median Annual Household Income
1	Pennsylvania	72.48%
2	Rhode Island	71.16%
3	New York	68.33%
4	Massachusetts	62.22%
5	Illinois	61.88%
6	Vermont	60.38%
7	Connecticut	59.72%
8	Louisiana	57.80%
9	Oregon	57.76%
10	Ohio	57.00%
11	Missouri	56.59%
12	Tennessee	56.32%
13	New Hampshire	55.68%
14	Wisconsin	54.74%
15	Mississippi	54.30%
16	Kentucky	52.26%
17	South Carolina	51.94%
18	Indiana	51.55%
19	California	51.45%
20	Arkansas	51.22%
21	Alabama	50.82%
22	Oklahoma	49.84%
23	Maine	49.61%
24	Nebraska	47.65%
25	Michigan	47.58%
26	West Virginia	47.13%
27	Minnesota	45.97%
28	Arizona	45.91%
29	Washington	45.72%
30	New Jersey	45.70%
31	Iowa	45.63%
32	Florida	45.16%
33	North Carolina	44.48%
34	Texas	43.76%
35	Georgia	42.87%
36	Kansas	42.62%
37	Montana	42.41%
38	Virginia	41.61%
39	New Mexico	41.09%
40	Idaho	39.89%
41	Delaware	39.85%
42	Colorado	39.67%
43	Maryland	37.62%
44	South Dakota	37.12%
45	Nevada	36.58%
46	Hawaii	35.35%
47	Wyoming	34.58%
48	North Dakota	33.09%
49	Utah	27.69%

Nationally, a four-year public college education has risen an average of 30% over the past 20 years, WalletHub reported. The study notes that even in lower-cost states like North Dakota and Utah, careful budgeting remains necessary for families and students.

The report highlights several strategies to help keep college affordable, including attending in-state public institutions, applying extensively for scholarships and grants, buying used textbooks, budgeting carefully, cooking at home when possible, and securing part-time employment.