North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Admission to North Dakota State University is broadly accessible, though the campus demonstrates steady drawing power among those who receive an offer. In the 2027 US News American University Rankings, the university placed 236th, reflecting a ranking that has rebounded from lower standing in prior years and stabilized in recent editions. For applicants, gaining entry is straightforward: the university accepted 95% of applicants, keeping admissions barriers low across the applicant pool. While less than half of accepted applicants decide to attend, the school achieved an undergraduate yield rate of 32%. That yield is higher than 83% of peer schools among public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, showing that North Dakota State effectively secures enrollment compared to peer institutions facing similar competitive dynamics. For families planning college applications, these patterns indicate an institution with predictable, open admission thresholds that nonetheless maintains solid appeal among admitted candidates making their final enrollment decisions.

North Dakota State University operates under an admissions policy where standardized test scores are optional, considered if submitted. Standardized testing represents a minor element of the overall evaluation process, as just 2 percent of enrolled students submitted ACT results in 2025, while SAT submission also remained minimal. For applicants presenting examination marks, published 2025 records show an ACT composite range spanning from 19 at the lower end to 25 at the upper end. Subject marks in English and mathematics mirrored this moderate band. Because the vast majority of matriculants enter without standardized test records, prospective students should recognize that academic transcripts and secondary school coursework form the cornerstone of admissions decisions. Applicants presenting credentials within that middle span fall in line with previous score submitters, but admissions outcomes fundamentally hinge on day-to-day high school performance.

Degrees at North Dakota State University are moderately dispersed, with the top three bachelor's programs accounting for 21.1% of undergraduate degrees awarded in 2025. Registered Nursing was the single largest undergraduate major with 191 graduates, followed by general business administration and psychology. In academic assessments, several specialized graduate programs stand out in the US News rankings, led by Biological and Agricultural Engineering at 28th and Pharmacy at 44th in 2026, alongside Criminology at 38th in 2021. For students prioritizing financial outcomes, technical fields demonstrate the strongest early career pay. According to 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, bachelor's degree recipients in electrical engineering reported median salaries of $82,503, followed closely by industrial engineering graduates at $79,610. Prospective students can therefore leverage both high-earning engineering options and nationally ranked health and agricultural specialties.

In 2025, North Dakota State University enrolled 11,952 total students, showing a clear distinction between its undergraduate and graduate populations. White students make up the large majority of undergraduates, representing more than four-fifths of both entering and continuing cohorts. Asian students account for a small portion of the campus community; continuing undergraduate Asian students number 124, or 1.8% of that group, with similarly modest proportions among freshmen and graduate cohorts. International undergraduates also represent a minimal slice of student life, accounting for about one percent of first-year admissions. By contrast, the university draws substantial international participation into its post-baccalaureate programs. Graduate international students number 724, representing 33.1% of the entire graduate student body. This demographic distribution means that while undergraduate social and campus life is driven primarily by domestic and regional students, graduate study and laboratory research involve a substantial global student presence.

The undergraduate population at North Dakota State University is concentrated heavily in traditional college ages. In 2025, students aged 20 to 21 constituted the largest undergraduate group at 39.7%, closely followed by 18- to 19-year-olds at 39%. With those under 22 making up the vast majority of undergraduates, daily campus life revolves around traditional-age collegiate routines and residential schedules. The graduate student community presents a slightly older, more distributed profile. Students aged 25 to 29 form the single largest graduate cohort at 27.3%, alongside sizable groups of students in their early twenties and thirties. This generational transition reflects an undergraduate environment populated by students straight from high school, contrasted with a graduate cohort balanced between immediate post-college graduates and working adults pursuing advanced credentials.

International student representation at North Dakota State University differs starkly by academic level. At the undergraduate level, international enrollment has trended downward over the past decade, leaving international students at just 1% of the undergraduate student body in 2025. Compared to 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this 1% share is higher than only 10% of peer schools. Undergraduate degrees awarded reflect this scarcity, with international graduates making up less than one percent of bachelor's recipients across major programs like Registered Nursing and Business Administration. In contrast, international presence has grown within graduate programs, where foreign scholars reached 33.1% of all graduate students in 2025. International degree earners are heavily concentrated in technical and research-oriented graduate disciplines, earning over a quarter of master's degrees and nearly a third of doctorates. At the master's level, international students represented 73.9% of graduates in Computer Science, highlighting how global recruitment is focused predominantly on advanced technical education.

Applicants exploring North Dakota State University can consider several public and private institutions across the Upper Midwest. Located 72.2 kilometers away, the University of North Dakota is a fellow public flagship holding the 227th position in the National University category. Further south, South Dakota State University sits 178 kilometers from campus and ranks 250th among National Universities, presenting a comparable regional public option. Families looking toward liberal arts education within driving distance have choices in central Minnesota, such as the College of Saint Benedict, ranked 68th among Liberal Arts Colleges at a distance of 150.1 kilometers, and Saint Johns University, ranked 74th at 146.5 kilometers. These neighboring campuses offer useful regional alternatives across both research university and liberal arts settings.

Campus safety at North Dakota State University is predominantly defined by substance-related infractions rather than violent offenses. In 2025, the campus crime rate per 1,000 students was 11.5, reflecting an overall decline from earlier in the decade. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of recorded incidents involved alcohol policies. Disciplinary referrals for liquor violations constituted the single largest category with 283 incidents, accompanied by 131 campus arrests for liquor law violations over those same years. Drug arrests and property offenses such as motor vehicle theft and burglary occurred far less frequently, while reports of violent crime remained comparatively low. These numbers indicate that campus safety challenges primarily involve internal enforcement of university and state alcohol regulations among the student population, presenting an environment where serious personal crimes remain relatively infrequent.