Williston State College campus
Williston State College logo

Williston State College

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Remote
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Dormitory capacity 217
Student to faculty ratio 21 to 1
Students retention rate 52%
On-time graduation rate 41%

Located in Williston, North Dakota, Williston State is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Williston State College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Williston State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at Williston State is reported to be 41%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, North Dakota state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 41% whereas the national average was 35%.

The retention rate of students at Williston State is 52% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in North Dakota is 69%, while the national average is 61%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Williston State do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

In-State Tuition & Fees

$5,981

Cost of attendance at Williston State College in 2022 for students from North Dakota.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Dakota's average $7,345
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$5,981

Cost of attendance at Williston State College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

North Dakota's average $9,639
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 93 of freshman students at Williston State College received on average $6,519 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$6,519
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 79 30% $4,518 $356,950
Other Federal Grant 79 30% $4,640 $366,550
State Grant/Scholarships 50 19% $1,961 $98,025
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 219 84% $5,142 $1,126,072
Total Grant & Scholarships 244 93% $6,519 $1,590,647

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Williston State College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Williston State College students is 41.3%. Female students graduated at a rate of 45.5%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 36.1%.

41.3%

  • asian 50.0% 2 students
  • white 43.2% 85 students
  • hispanic 29.4% 10 students
  • International Students 73.7% 14 students
  • Mixed Race 38.5% 10 students

Athletic Associations

  • NJCAA
    National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

Service Offerings

Williston State College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Williston State College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training