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Fargo , ND
North Dakota State University (NDSU) is a public research university located in Fargo, North Dakota. Established in 1890, NDSU is the state's largest university and offers a wide range of academic programs. The university is known for its strong focus on agriculture, engineering, and business, as well as being a leader in research and innovation.
NDSU's campus spans over 200 acres and is home to more than 14,000 students from all 50 states and over 80 countries. The university offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 80 master's and doctoral programs across various disciplines. Popular majors include agriculture, engineering, business, nursing, and computer science.
Aside from its academic offerings, NDSU has a vibrant campus life with opportunities for students to get involved in over 300 student clubs and organizations. The university also boasts a strong athletic program, competing in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Summit League. NDSU Bison athletics, especially football, have gained national recognition with multiple championship titles.
Overall, North Dakota State University provides a comprehensive educational experience with a focus on innovation, research, and student engagement. With its commitment to academic excellence, strong ties to industry and agriculture, and a lively campus environment, NDSU continues to attract students looking for a well-rounded education and a diverse range of opportunities.
Located in Fargo, ND and set in an urban environment, North Dakota State University is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at North Dakota State University is 78.42% and the six-year graduation rate is 64%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about North Dakota State University.
Quick Facts
9,762
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
64%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. What are the admission requirements for North Dakota State University?
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,864 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 0.59% and ACT scores 51.8%. 30.77% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 30.77% between 1,200 and 1,399, 30.77% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 7.69% between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 8.08, 33.04 between 24-29, 43.85 in the range between 18-23, 14.85 between 12-17, 0.09 between 6-11, and 0.09 below 6.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.52. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The application deadline for North Dakota State University is August 1. If you are thinking about applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for North Dakota State University was 78.42%, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 64%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at North Dakota State University in 2025 was 11,952.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 58.56% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 9,762, 85 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 569.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,775 male and 4,847 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 450 full-time graduate male and 555 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 168 Asian students and 323 Afro-American students in 2025. 352 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 445 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 67 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 107 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $9,868. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $14,802 in 2025. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $17,269. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,669 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $14,802 | $1,669 | $16,471 |
| In-State | $9,868 | $1,669 | $11,537 |
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At North Dakota State University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $10,378. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $5,000 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,868 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,378 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,246 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid available at North Dakota State University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,103 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,560.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
3,488 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 4,030. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $10,143,896, and state $4,168,321. The students of North Dakota State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $7,416,831, and external in the amount of $2,863,804.
$2,925
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 499 students overall (including freshmen) at North Dakota State University in 2025. 163 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $10,143,896 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $256,103. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $4,016,224. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,776,549 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at North Dakota State University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 705 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 404 men and 300 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at North Dakota State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at North Dakota State University.
Its campus is 2,100 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
According to recently gathered data, there are 310 open-membership organizations at North Dakota State University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 8 and female students 8. The most popular student organization is CRU, followed by fraternities/sororities and Chi Alpha Christian Organization. Other popular organizations among the students at North Dakota State University are Students Today, Leaders Forever and Saddle and Sirloin.
If you are interested in music, you can join the North Dakota State University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? North Dakota State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At North Dakota State University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of North Dakota State University.
All in all, campus life at North Dakota State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at North Dakota State University.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 48,000 USD.
$48,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, ND.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for North Dakota State University is 94%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for North Dakota State University is 78.42%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
