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Fargo, ND · Public · 9,471 undergraduates · urban

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Less selective

NDSU's land-grant identity is highly visible in agriculture, engineering, architecture, pharmacy, and applied research serving the northern Plains.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Established Solid in affordability, and solid in career outcomes.
Academic Emerging Affordability Solid Career Solid Mobility Steady Experience Emerging
Academic standing Emerging
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Steady
Student experience Emerging
Admission
95.8% admitted

7,331 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
64.3%

$62,203 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets North Dakota State University-Main Campus apart

Academic design

Engineering, agriculture, architecture, business, pharmacy, nursing, and sciences support a broad applied curriculum.

Campus pattern

Fargo combines a defined university district with a growing metropolitan economy.

Career & value signal

Agriculture, engineering, construction, health, and technology employers across the region recruit directly from relevant programs.

Can I get in?

95.8% admitted

Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.

Recent applicant pool

7,331

About 96 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 95.8%
Entering class

Academic range

ACT middle 50%19–24
1627

Of admitted students, 1% submitted an SAT, and 4% submitted an ACT. Almost nobody admitted here sent a score, which leaves the SAT and ACT ranges standing on a handful of files.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA9.4%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for North Dakota State University-Main Campus, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What North Dakota State University-Main Campus weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Engineering, agriculture, architecture, business, pharmacy, nursing, and sciences support a broad applied curriculum.

02

Make institutional fit specific

NDSU's land-grant identity is highly visible in agriculture, engineering, architecture, pharmacy, and applied research serving the northern Plains.

03

Use the application route carefully

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.

Fall applicationAug 1
Application routeInstitution application

$0 application fee

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

ArchitectureAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Communication and journalismAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$26,990
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$16,000
Affordability profileSolid

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years64.3%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one77.6%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$62,203

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Mechanical Engineering

Recent graduates122
Median earnings$87,702

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Recent graduates103
Median earnings$50,052

Psychology, General

Recent graduates94
Median earnings$54,784

What is campus life like?

North Dakota State University-Main Campus beyond the classroom

Fargo combines a defined university district with a growing metropolitan economy.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Engineering, agriculture, architecture, business, pharmacy, nursing, and sciences support a broad applied curriculum.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Fargo combines a defined university district with a growing metropolitan economy.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Agriculture, engineering, construction, health, and technology employers across the region recruit directly from relevant programs.

9,471 undergraduatesMidwesturban settingCampus housing available