Sitting Bull College
Sitting Bull College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Sitting Bull College at a Glance
Sitting Bull College (SBC) is a public tribal land-grant college in Fort Yates, North Dakota. It was founded in 1973 by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in south-central North Dakota and north-central South Dakota. The SBC campuses are located in Fort Yates, North Dakota and McLaughlin, South Dakota. It serves as the primary educational institution on the Standing Rock Reservation.
1973
53 years old
289
Identity
Is Sitting Bull College Worth It?
At a value score of 36/100, Sitting Bull College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $28,488 — 47% below average — while paying $4,605/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 23% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Sitting Bull College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Sitting Bull College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #3 of 8 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stone Child College | 46 | $4,424 | $24,555 |
| #2 | Sisseton Wahpeton College | 42 | $2,977 | $31,546 |
| #3 | Sitting Bull College | 36 | $4,605 | $28,488 |
| #4 | Aaniiih Nakoda College | 32 | $7,887 | $30,528 |
| #5 | Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University | 13 | $8,657 | $24,302 |
| #6 | University of Puerto Rico-Utuado | 11 | $13,648 | $23,906 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Sitting Bull College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Sitting Bull College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Sitting Bull College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $4,605/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in ND
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Fort Yates, ND
- Student Body
- 257 students
- Graduation Rate
- 23%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,605
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $28,488