Williston State College — Local services in Williston

Audited Verified Review (AVR)

Brief History Williston State College (WSC), founded in 1961 as University of North Dakota-Williston, is a public two-year college in Williston, ND. Part of the North Dakota University System, it offers Associate in Arts, Science, and Applied Science degrees, plus technical certificates. WSC serves transfer and career-technical students, aligning with the region’s oil-driven economy.

NAICS Code 611210 – Junior Colleges. This code applies to institutions offering academic or technical instruction below the baccalaureate level, matching WSC’s associate degree and certificate programs.

Ownership

WSC is a public institution owned by the State of North Dakota under the North Dakota University System (NDUS), governed by the State Board of Higher Education. No private ownership exists.

Management

Led by President Dr. Bernell Hirning (as of 2025). The NDUS Chancellor, Mark Hagerott, oversees system-wide governance. Local management includes academic and administrative deans, but specific names are undisclosed.

Address

1410 University Ave, Williston, ND 58801 Phone Number (701) 774-4200 Website https://www.willistonstate.edu

Economic Impact

WSC supports Williston’s oil-boom economy (pop. 29,160 in 2020) by training workers for energy and healthcare sectors. It generates local spending via 514 students and $20.5M budget, plus tax revenue from campus operations. Events like Career Signing Day boost job placement.

Employment

Employs ~135 staff, including 32 instructors (13 associate professors, 8 instructors, 8 assistant professors) and 35 non-instructional staff (management, service, academic affairs). Student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1, higher than the 15:1 national average.

Compliance

Adheres to federal and ND education regulations, including Title IX and ADA. Offers veteran’s preference in hiring and maintains Equal Opportunity policies. No major violations reported, but high student loan default rate (16% vs. 10.1% national) raises concerns.

Reputation

WSC ranks #11 of 12 ND schools, with a 100% acceptance rate and 38% graduation rate. Praised for affordability ($9,149 net price) but criticized for low retention (52% vs. 68% national). Alumni earn ~$38,942 early-career, near national averages. Social Responsibility Score WSC engages via scholarships, PTK support for local charities (e.g., MonDak Animal Rescue), and events like Career Signing Day. Lacks robust sustainability or DEI initiatives compared to peers. Score: 5/10. Modest community focus but limited transparency.

Social Responsibility Participation & Involvement Score...

Quality of education is extremely poor. The instructors couldn't care less whether students pass or fail, in fact, I was advised to withdraw from a course by an instructor via. email. The enrollment process took forever and I then wasn't able to take courses that I need or wanted to take. The enrollment director was rude to myself and my mother who went in to the college to sort out enrollment. Please keep in mind that my family and I moved to Colorado and so we drove from there to Williston in order to figure this out. I am extremely disappointed. I know several friends who have dropped out of WSC because their education was suffering and they then did better by enrolling as an online student with a different college. I do not suggest this to anyone, it's a very poor option for students, whether it's free for 2 years because you got the grant from Williston High...

Professer quality varies wildly- some do definately care and are fantastic at teaching, others are horrible and will blantently tell you to your face that they don't care if you pass or not. Others simply refuse to help you at all and insist you teach yourself ALL of the material. The cafeteria is really hit and miss but I'm told it's been better recently. Sometimes the meal is downright fantastic and other times they serve you moldy food (yes, really. It depends on who is cooking that day.) Their basketball team harasses people constantly and makes a lot of women uncomfortable, including myself. I don't regret getting a degree here but I wouldn't recommend it if you have literally any...