Quad

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, NDQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forMost students are from MinnesotaTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

North Dakota State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (95%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 12% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

95%

95%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

7,228

Admitted

6,864

Yield

32%

of admits enroll

ACT middle 50%

19–25

1836
Applications +27% since fall 2014 · admit rate 83% → 95%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 9,471 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

9.5K

undergrads · larger than 88% of colleges

Diversity index

0.30

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FCS · The Summit LeagueROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.24 → 0.30 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (9% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 98% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,618 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

Most popular major

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

9% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

$125.2K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

98%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$11.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $22,469 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $1.8K less than the national median. The 81% who received grants paid $15,596 on average; the other 19% paid the full sticker price of $24,698 in-state / $29,352 out-of-state.

19%

$22.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $1.8K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$24,698 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 19% of full price

Federal loans

52%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −27% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $62,203 ten years after enrolling, more than at 72% of colleges; 64% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.4 years of that salary.

64%

64%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$62.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.2K

≈ $246/month for 10 years

Retention

78%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 56% → 64% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 20% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 27%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 27% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 83% to 95%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −27% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +27%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 83% → 95%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.24 → 0.30

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

South Dakota State University

98% admit · SAT 1150 · 9.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest
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University of Maine

97% admit · 8.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Michigan Technological University

92% admit · SAT 1240 · 6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest
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University of Mississippi

97% admit · SAT 1100 · 21.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    North Dakota State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2024–25

    North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fall 2026 applicants; 2023–24; 2024–25; Fall 2025 entrants; Fall 2024; Fall 2025 cycle; Class of 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    North Dakota State University-Main Campus (2026)

    North Dakota State University-Main Campus · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 200332 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything