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North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State University

Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPublic

Known for business — excellent value

North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Fargo with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1120, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 9.6K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

64% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $62,203 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,334.

Established
1890
Mascot
Thundar
Type
Public land-grant research university
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

96%Acceptance
1120SAT Avg
9,567Students
18:1Student:Faculty
64%Grad Rate
$62,203Earnings 10yr
$16,334Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

North Dakota State University-Main Campus Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate95.8%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 23
1924

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

95.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1120

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$10,857
Tuition (out-of-state)$15,511
Room & Board$9,565
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$23,391
Average Net Price$16,334
Median Debt at Graduation$23,199
Monthly Payment (10yr)$246

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,647
$30–48K$12,429
$48–75K$14,166
$75–110K$17,427
$110K+$19,218

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

47.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$16,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

72

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

19

Burglary

4

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

6

Motor Vehicle Theft

8

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

19

Drug Arrests

14

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (232)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

77%

Negative
  • 77% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
9,567
Gender Split
51% / 49%
Women / Men
First Generation
17%
Pell Grant Recipients
19%

Race & Ethnicity

White 85%
Black 3%
Hispanic 3%
Asian 2%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate63.7%
Freshman Retention76.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$54,312
10 Years$62,203

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#231
1
vs 2024
Forbes
#275
2
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
2
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#147
2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — North Dakota

BasketballBasketball championshipsGolf

History & Fun Facts

  • NDAC was established as North Dakota's land-grant institution.
  • Stockbridge became the first NDAC president and the board of trustees was formed.
  • The first class of students were admitted on September 8, 1891.
  • College Hall (Old Main) was completed in 1892 and was the first building on campus.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul221 mi
MKE Milwaukee513 mi
MCI Kansas City535 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1298 mi · ~37h 30m drive
New York, NY1209 mi · ~34h 56m drive
Hartford, CT1238 mi · ~35h 46m drive
Providence, RI1296 mi · ~37h 26m drive
Albany, NY1163 mi · ~33h 36m drive
Syracuse, NY1041 mi · ~30h 4m drive
Rochester, NY969 mi · ~28h drive
Buffalo, NY918 mi · ~26h 31m drive
Philadelphia, PA1182 mi · ~34h 9m drive
Pittsburgh, PA948 mi · ~27h 23m drive
Harrisburg, PA1093 mi · ~31h 35m drive
Newark, NJ1201 mi · ~34h 42m drive
Washington, DC1138 mi · ~32h 53m drive
Baltimore, MD1142 mi · ~32h 59m drive
Atlanta, GA1116 mi · ~32h 14m drive
Charlotte, NC1154 mi · ~33h 20m drive
Raleigh, NC1210 mi · ~34h 57m drive
Miami, FL1720 mi · ~49h 41m drive
Orlando, FL1517 mi · ~43h 49m drive
Tampa, FL1522 mi · ~43h 58m drive
Nashville, TN903 mi · ~26h 5m drive
New Orleans, LA1225 mi · ~35h 23m drive
Richmond, VA1178 mi · ~34h 2m drive
Chicago, IL570 mi · ~16h 28m drive
Detroit, MI745 mi · ~21h 31m drive
Minneapolis, MN215 mi · ~6h 13m drive
St. Louis, MO662 mi · ~19h 7m drive
Kansas City, MO550 mi · ~15h 53m drive
Indianapolis, IN726 mi · ~20h 58m drive
Columbus, OH840 mi · ~24h 16m drive
Cleveland, OH834 mi · ~24h 6m drive
Milwaukee, WI509 mi · ~14h 42m drive
Dallas, TX975 mi · ~28h 10m drive
Houston, TX1186 mi · ~34h 16m drive
Austin, TX1150 mi · ~33h 13m drive
San Antonio, TX1210 mi · ~34h 57m drive
Los Angeles, CA1426 mi · ~41h 12m drive
San Francisco, CA1443 mi · ~41h 41m drive
San Diego, CA1451 mi · ~41h 55m drive
Seattle, WA1193 mi · ~34h 28m drive
Portland, OR1235 mi · ~35h 41m drive
Denver, CO643 mi · ~18h 35m drive
Phoenix, AZ1226 mi · ~35h 25m drive
Salt Lake City, UT861 mi · ~24h 52m drive
Honolulu, HI3801 mi · ~109h 48m drive
Northern (cold winters, cool summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)221 miles
Rental car
332 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
442 min$265-442
Milwaukee (MKE)513 miles
Rental car
770 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
1026 min$616-1026

North Dakota State University-Main Campus Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

North Dakota State University-Main Campus — v2 Preview — TourStack