Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Williston, North Dakota
Williston State College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$18,119Annual Cost
$44,017Grad Salary
20.4%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$7,164
Need-Based Aid
20.4% receive Pell
Williston State College is a public institution in North Dakota that provides a wide range of associate degrees, transfer pathways, and technical training. The college is recognized for its strong community ties, small-campus atmosphere, and commitment to helping students achieve their educational and career goals. Whether students are looking to transfer to a four-year university or gain immediate skills for the regional workforce, the college offers an accessible, high-value education that emphasizes personalized attention and student success.
Williston State College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Williston State College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Williston State College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Williston State College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
WSC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at WSC
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Williston State College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Williston State College (WSC) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at WSC — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into WSC Without SAT or ACT?
WSC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for WSC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into WSC is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Understand that "open admission" doesn't mean "no gate" - placement testing is the real gate
Per NDUS Procedure 402.1.2, ALL degree-seeking students must submit placement scores (ACT, SAT, EdReady, or Accuplacer) for admission purposes, even though there's no GPA/test-score minimum to be admitted. Advise students to take the ACT or SAT before enrolling if at all possible - it's the only route that avoids the $10-per-subject Accuplacer/EdReady testing fee and avoids default placement into non-credit remedial coursework.
Use North Dakota dual-credit/concurrent enrollment to walk in already placed
Transfer applicants (including those with dual-credit Math/English from high school) who've already "successfully transferred in" college-level Math and English are explicitly exempted from placement testing. ND high schoolers should be pushed hard toward concurrent enrollment courses specifically in English and Math before senior year - this directly shortens time-to-degree at WSC.
Target Petroleum Technology & Automation as the flagship differentiator
This program only makes sense in the context of Williston's location in the Bakken oil-field region - it's not a generic gen-ed community college pathway. Students interested in it should contact the program directly before applying to ask about current industry-sponsor relationships, since employer partnerships in oil-and-gas regions shift with commodity cycles and matter more to actual job placement than the general college application does.
International and Canadian applicants must front-load testing
Unlike domestic Early Entry students, international and Canadian applicants are explicitly required to submit ACT, SAT, or placement scores with no exceptions listed - this should be flagged early since it changes the applicant's timeline versus a domestic peer.
Expert Insight:
A specific and repeated failure pattern: students and parents treat "open admission" as the finish line, submit the free application, and skip placement testing - then get blindsided when they're registered into non-credit remedial Math/English in their first semester, which doesn't count toward the degree and can affect financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress timelines. Placement testing needs to be treated as part of "admission," not a post-admission afterthought.
WSC Profile
Full Name
Williston State College (WSC)
City
Williston
State
North Dakota
ZIP Code
58801
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a WSC Degree Worth It?
Whether WSC is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $44,200, and graduates see a 3.53% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from WSC Cost?
Listed tuition runs $18,119/year at WSC; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $7,164.
At WSC, 20.4% receive a Pell Grant and 15.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming WSC on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a WSC Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, WSC graduates report a median income of $44,017, about 8% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at WSC
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About WSC Admissions
Williston State College graduates earn a lower median salary of $44,017/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Williston State College is relatively affordable, around $18,119/year.
20.4% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Williston State College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Williston State College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Williston State College charges an application fee of 35; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 15, 2026 — that's Williston State College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all North Dakota Colleges
Average SAT Score of North Dakota Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in North Dakota
Bachelor Programs in North Dakota
Test Optional Colleges in North Dakota
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in North Dakota