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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.
North Dakota State University is a public university located in Fargo, ND and set in an urban environment. 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%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Here are some current information on important things to consider about North Dakota State University.
Quick Facts
9,762
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
64%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Check out some essential information about admission policy and requirements at North Dakota State University.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,864 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, 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 freshmen 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% of the students 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. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for North Dakota State University was 78.42%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this school 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. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its 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. There was a total of 9,762 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 85 international students. 569 students enrolled as transfer students.
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
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 168 Asian students and 323 Afro-American students in 2025. 352 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 445 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who declared 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
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for North Dakota State University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about North Dakota State University estimated tuition price.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $9,868. Tuition fees were $14,802 for students coming from out of state. Tuition costs at North Dakota State University for international students came to $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
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at North Dakota State University amounted to $10,378 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $5,000, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,868 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,378 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,246 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support for students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at North Dakota State University.
The most recent records show that 1,103 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $14,560 in financial help.
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 were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 4,030. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
499 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 163 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $10,143,896 while the state aid is $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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,776,549 USD.
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at North Dakota State University was 17:1. That means that there were 17 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 705 teachers at this school. This number included 404 male and 300 female faculty members.
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 details about students' life at North Dakota State University.
It has a campus size of 2,100 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 310 open-membership organizations at North Dakota State University. That includes sororities and fraternities. 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 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
North Dakota State University has a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health 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 highly beneficial for your future career.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 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 data indicate that the 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.