An NDSU education is affordable and obtainable

Choosing a college is a big decision, and so is figuring out the affordability of tuition, room and board and other student fees. At NDSU, affordability is part of the equation from the start. With competitive tuition rates, scholarships, financial aid and programs designed to make college more accessible, NDSU gives students more ways to invest in their education and their future.

A group of four NDSU students recently shared their thoughts on NDSU's affordability and what made NDSU the right choice.

“I would say that NDSU is a very affordable option compared to other colleges and universities that are around this area,” said Erick Carlson, a business administration student from Big Lake, Minnesota.

NDSU’s tuition rates make a four-year university education more accessible, including for students coming from outside North Dakota.

For the 2026-27 academic year, estimated base tuition is $10,460 for North Dakota residents and $11,715 for Minnesota residents. Eligible Minnesota students can qualify for a reduced tuition rate comparable to the North Dakota resident rate through the Minnesota-North Dakota tuition reciprocity agreement.

“As a Minnesota resident, it was important to have similar tuition cost versus a North Dakota resident,” Carlson added.

Students from Montana, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Manitoba and Saskatchewan also receive a reduced base tuition rate, estimated at $12,553 for 2026-27. For students from other U.S. states, estimated base tuition is $15,690.

That means students can look beyond their home state when choosing a college without affordability having to be a barrier.

“As somebody who knew I wanted to go out of state, I looked at a lot of different schools that were around Utah, and NDSU ended up actually being one of my most affordable options to go out of state, but stay decently close,” said Elly Lee, a sport management major from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Scholarships are another significant piece of the affordability equation that makes NDSU stand out. NDSU’s online scholarship portal helps incoming, transfer and current students find opportunities that fit their interests, academic programs and experiences. Students complete a general application and answer questions about themselves. The portal then helps match students with scholarships for which they may be eligible.

“It takes about 25 minutes and then NDSU basically does all the work for you and auto matches all of your scholarships,” said Jill Smolke, an apparel, retail merchandising and design student from Shakopee, Minnesota.

“The scholarship portal is an amazing resource. It's where I probably found a lot of my scholarships. I was able to get scholarships that I didn't initially think I would have been applicable for,” Lee said.

And scholarship opportunities don’t end after your first year. Current students can continue to find opportunities throughout their time at NDSU, including scholarships connected to academic programs and other eligibility criteria.

“I received some scholarships coming here initially, but then I received a lot more merit-based scholarships from being in my certain major and there’s scholarships for GPA,” said Ayden Frohlich, a behavioral statistics major from Bismarck.

For those looking to support student scholarships, NDSU’s annual Giving Day is set for Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 8 a.m., with early giving beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. Giving Day is a 24-hour event that brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends to support scholarships, academics, research, student organizations, athletics and other areas across campus.

NDSU also helps make the process of figuring out how to pay for college a straight-forward process. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can help students determine their eligibility for federal and other forms of financial assistance. NDSU’s One Stop provides a central resource for questions about financial aid, scholarships, tuition and other costs.

“NDSU works really well with students to help with all that financial information,” Smolke said.

Watch the full student panel Q&A video to hear what else Carlson, Lee, Smolke and Frohlich shared about their NDSU experience.

Invest in your future at NDSU. Apply today or schedule a campus visit.

NDSU Marketing and Communications
Sources: Erick Carlson, Elly Lee, Jill Smolke and Ayden Frohlich
Writer: Meghan Arbegast
Video: Dan Erdmann/NDSU