What is the acceptance rate at Valley City State University?

Valley City State University's acceptance rate is approximately 99% (Valley City, ND), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Valley City State University?

Admitted students at Valley City State University typically score 830–1070 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Valley City State University cost?

At Valley City State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $11,890 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Valley City State University?

Valley City State University enrolls approximately 958 undergraduate students.

Where is Valley City State University located?

Valley City State University is located in Valley City, ND.

Valley City State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Valley City State University

Valley City, NDpublicwww.vcsu.edu/

Acceptance

99%

SAT 25–75

830–1070

Avg net price

$11,890

Earnings (10 yr)

$52,725

Graduation rate

53%

Admit rate has ranged 69%–83% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (99%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Valley City State University is a small, public university in rural North Dakota that operates on a radically open-access principle, admitting virtually every applicant. Its identity is anchored in a practical, career-focused education, most notably in teacher preparation, wildlife science, and business, delivered with a straightforward, no-frills approach in a tight-knit campus community. This is a place where affordability and post-graduation success are explicit priorities, not just marketing points.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 958
In-state tuition: $8,514
Out-of-state tuition: $13,544
Top Major: Elementary Education and Teaching (37%)
Graduation Rate: 53%
On-Campus Housing: 31% of students
Median Earnings (10yr): $52,725
Students Receiving Financial Aid: 99%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $52,725
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 4.4×
Median debt at graduation: $20,369
Graduation rate: 53%
First-year retention: 71%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 70%
Pell (lower-income) share: 17%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients): 26%

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$43,000
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$38,289
Human Services, General$38,289
Business Administration, Management and Operations$38,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,537

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 3
Per 1,000 students: 2.70

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 95
Summer high: 79°F
Winter low: 5°F
Annual rain: 23"
Annual snow: 42.9"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 29
Scholarly works: 337

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 2.2%
Bottom → top quintile: 19%
From bottom quintile: 11%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Valley City State University?: Valley City State University's acceptance rate is approximately 99% (Valley City, ND), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Valley City State University?: Admitted students at Valley City State University typically score 830–1070 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Valley City State University cost?: At Valley City State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $11,890 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Valley City State University?: Valley City State University enrolls approximately 958 undergraduate students.
Where is Valley City State University located?: Valley City State University is located in Valley City, ND.

Admissions

VCSU's admissions philosophy is defined by its near-universal . The university is described as "not selective," with an acceptance rate of 99% and no minimum ACT or SAT score required for admission. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 830–1070, with a corresponding ACT range of 17–24. Admission decisions are based on a combination of high school GPA, class rank, and test scores. The university does not offer an Early Decision program in the traditional binding sense; its "Early Entry" program is for high school students seeking college credit, requiring a 3.0 cumulative GPA. For the Fall 2024 semester, VCSU set an enrollment record with 1,806 total students, including 1,651 undergraduates.

bigfuture.collegeboard.org vcsu.edu niche.com vcsu.edu vcsu.edu usnews.com

Academics

The academic experience at VCSU is built around practicality and directness. The university offers more than 65 undergraduate programs, with a particular emphasis on fields that lead directly to careers. Teacher education is the undisputed flagship; Elementary Education and Teaching alone accounts for 37% of all majors. Other significant programs include Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management (9%) and Business Administration. The curriculum spans from software engineering and health sciences to fisheries and wildlife. Faculty are noted for being "straightforward and honest about academic expectations," an approach designed to build student resilience and practical skills. This is not a university focused on theoretical exploration but on applied learning and professional preparation.

Compare Valley City State University

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Valley City State University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Economic mobility

Quick answers

Admissions

Academics

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