Valley City State University
Valley City, North Dakota · Public · 958 undergraduates · vcsu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
99%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
830 to 1070
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$23,740Est.Estimate
$29,530 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Valley City State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
99% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$29,530
a year in 2027-28, from a $29,530 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 950
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (950).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: FAQs | Valley City State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
99%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 830 to 1070
Reading and Writing 420 to 530
Math 410 to 540
ACT composite 17 to 24
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$23,740
a year, in state
$29,530
a year, out of state (tuition $15,560)
- Tuition (in state)$9,770
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,997
- $30,001 to $48,000$9,236
- $48,001 to $75,000$8,809
- $75,001 to $110,000$13,300
- Over $110,000$17,176
Financial aidEstimate
70%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
99%
of freshmen receive grants
$7,467
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
North Dakota programs for residents
North Dakota Scholarship
State program · In-state students
$750/semester ($500/quarter, clock-hour or apprenticeship term); max $6,000 total
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Post-Secondary Ready pathway (paired with Workforce Ready or Military Ready); Essential Skills; Post-Secondary Ready = test + 2 of: AP course C+, dual-credit English/math C+, Algebra II C+, 3 fine arts C+, AP exam 3+, IB exam 4+, 3.0 core GPA; plus complete a 2nd pathway (Workforce or Military)
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Workforce Ready pathway test option (paired with Post-Secondary or Military Ready); Essential Skills; Workforce Ready = 4 CTE credits (2 in same plan of study) OR 3 credits same world/indigenous/sign language OR teaching pathway; test; + 2 of: Career Ready Practices course, dual-credit C+, industry credential, 40-hr workplace learning, 40-hr work-based learning, NDSA/NDA+ level 3+
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
35 of 35
Earn credit with a score of 3
32 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $980Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 122 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 124 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | Elective Credit (100 or 200 level) |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ART 210 & 211 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 111/L |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIOL 150/L & 151/L |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MATH 165 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 165 & 166 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 115/L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 121/L & 122/L |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 225 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSCI 160 |
| Drawing | 3 | 6 | ART 130 & 230 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 110 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | ENGL 112 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 220 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENGL 110 & 220 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | GEOL 124/L or 101/L |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 101 & 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 7 | FREN 101 & 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 7 | GERM 101 & 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 150 or 151 |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | CLAS 101 & 102 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | Econ 201 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 6 | MUSC 122 & 124 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 211/L |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 212/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 212/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 252/L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 211/L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 251/L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | MATH107 | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PHYS 111 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 7 | SPAN 101 & 102 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 210 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 115 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 103 & 104 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 211 & 212 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
50%
Come back for a second year
71%
Typical earnings
$53,886
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Valley City State University$50,482
- All colleges$48,512
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 4 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Valley City State University.