The University
North Dakota State University, located in Fargo, North Dakota, has approximately 14,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate programs, 59 master's degree programs, and 44 doctoral programs.
As a land-grant institution, the university's educational mission combines academic experiences in the arts, humanities, and social sciences with professional preparation in the sciences, mathematics, engineering, architecture, agriculture, business, education, pharmacy, and human development and family science.
North Dakota State University is a comprehensive, career-oriented university with a long-standing reputation for excellence in scientific research and the professional schools. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and the academic programs by many other accrediting agencies. More information about academics and majors offered at NDSU is available here.
To further enhance students' academic options, North Dakota State University participates in the Tri-College University consortium with neighboring Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College. Thus, students enrolled at North Dakota State University may also take classes at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College.
Location and Environment
Located in the north central region of the United States, Fargo, North Dakota, has the Great Plains to its west and the state of Minnesota's wooded lake country to its east. Adjacent to Fargo is the city of Moorhead, Minnesota. The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area has a population of approximately 175,000 people. The nearest large cities are only a four-hour drive away: Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada.
Enrollments in the community's three institutions of higher learning—North Dakota State University, Concordia College, and Minnesota State University Moorhead —total approximately 20,000. North Dakota experiences variable weather—cold days in the winter, hot days in the summer, as well as many mild, pleasant days in between. The temperature often drops to below 0F (-18C) during the winter and rises to as high as 90F (33C) during the summer.
The Fargo-Moorhead community serves as a medical, educational, and retail distribution center for the upper midwestern region. The metropolitan area also offers a wealth of opportunities for pursuing cultural, athletic, and other leisure-time interests.
In addition to the programs and attractions sponsored by the three post-secondary institutions, a variety of arts-related events are presented throughout the year. There are many lakes and forests within 50 miles for year-round recreational activities. Students can play golf in the summer, ski in the winter, and play soccer in fall and spring. Residents of Fargo-Moorhead take pride in their peaceful, clean, and safe environment. Please see Discover Fargo for more information.
Campus Facilities
The university occupies an area of approximately 41 square blocks of academic buildings and thousands of acres of land set apart from the central campus which are used for research and agricultural experiment programs.
The facilities at North Dakota State University range from the Bison Sports Arena and the Wallman Wellness Center, to the highly technical Electron Microscope Laboratory. University laboratories have a high-power pulsed laser system, DNA-synthesizer, and laser beam particle size analyzer. The Library contains more than a half million volumes and possesses a sophisticated system of electronic information retrieval that allows access to printed material worldwide.
The Memorial Union is a multipurpose complex featuring an amphitheater for movies and visiting speakers, bowling alley, art gallery, bookstore, lounging and eating spaces, and 24-hour study areas. More than 17 rooms with computers for student use are located in many buildings on campus including the IACC building which supports 480 computers. All students have access to e-mail, the Internet, and computer software. The Music Education Building has a 1,000-seat auditorium that accommodates concerts, lectures, and student productions as well.
Students
Students attending North Dakota State University are evenly divided between rural and urban backgrounds. Most of the students are from North Dakota and Minnesota, but students come from all 50 states of the United States and more than 1,300 come from 80 other countries. Nearly 57 percent of the students are men and 43 percent are women.
Faculty and Staff
Approximately 700 faculty and other academic staff teach at the university. North Dakota State University's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service makes highly-qualified faculty available to every student. More than 75 percent of the faculty have the highest degree possible in their academic field. The student/faculty ratio is about 19 to 1. As a result, students receive individualized attention from faculty.
Many faculty members receive a significant number of grants and fellowships in support of their research, allowing opportunities for students to work closely with their professors on innovative studies.
Members of the faculty also serve as academic advisers and help students plan their undergraduate and graduate programs. Highly trained professional staff provide a range of services in support of the university's mission.
In this Section: Why NDSU?
- The University
- Bison Tracks
- Housing and Dining Services
- Student Support Services
- Student Associations
- Athletics
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