NDSU Tuition Award Program

The Tuition Award Program covers base undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees in the first two years for eligible North Dakota and Minnesota students. After scholarships and grants are applied, NDSU will cover any remaining base tuition and mandatory student fees.

NDSU is a land-grant institution committed to addressing the workforce needs of North Dakota and the region. We strive to support students in their pursuit of a career by providing an attainable, affordable and high-quality education.

Current eligibility runs through Spring 2027 for eligible North Dakota and Minnesota students already enrolled at NDSU. For students starting in Fall 2026, high school graduates from Cass County (ND) and Clay County (MN) will qualify.

See the Eligibility requirements and FAQ below for more details and important information.

Eligibility

Select the drop-down that applies to your enrollment status.

For full consideration, students must meet the following criteria during the 2026-2027 academic year:

  • Be a North Dakota or Minnesota resident receiving the in-state or reciprocity tuition rate
  • Be initially awarded the Tuition Award Program in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026
  • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7000 or less and be Pell Grant-eligible as reported on the 2026-2027 FAFSA
  • Be enrolled full-time (12+ credits per semester) for fall and spring semesters
  • Be in good academic standing and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Be pursuing first bachelor’s degree
  • Not be in default on a state or federal student loan
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Submit the FAFSA by the following deadlines based on your start term:
    • Fall 2025 - Deadline has passed
    • Spring 2026 - Feb. 23

For full consideration, students must meet the following criteria during the 2026-2027 academic year:

  • Be a North Dakota or Minnesota resident receiving the in-state or reciprocity tuition rate
  • Graduated or plan to graduate from a high school in Cass (ND) or Clay (MN) counties
  • Be a new, first year or transfer degree-seeking student beginning Summer 2026, Fall 2026 or Spring 2027
  • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7000 or less and be Pell-eligible as reported on the 2026-2027 FAFSA
  • Enroll full-time (12+ credits per semester) for fall and spring semesters
  • Be in good academic standing and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Be pursuing first bachelor’s degree
  • Not be in default on a state or federal student loan
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Submit the FAFSA by the following deadlines based on your start term:
    • Fall 2026 - October
    • Spring 2027 - February

Application Process for New Students

  1. Apply for admission for Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 (currently enrolled NDSU students do not need to re-apply for admission)
  2. Complete the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline listed under Eligibility

How It Works

The Tuition Award Program is a “last dollar” program. It will be applied to cover the remaining balance of base tuition and mandatory student fees after all other scholarships, grants and tuition waivers have been applied. This program does not cover differential tuition, housing or meal costs. For example:

  • An eligible student from North Dakota enrolls full-time in the fall semester, totaling to $5,768.50 in base tuition and fees.
  • The student receives $2,500 in grants and $1,500 in scholarships, leaving $1,768.50 to be covered.
  • The Tuition Award Program will cover the remaining $1,768.50 after all other grants and scholarships are applied.

Renewal Options

Eligible students will receive this award for their first two years at NDSU if eligibility criteria are met. This program is currently available to eligible students through Spring 2028.

Report External Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships and grants students receive from outside NDSU are factored into the Tuition Award Program. New and returning students should promptly notify Financial Aid and Scholarships of any scholarships or awards that will be coming from organizations outside of NDSU:

  1. Log in to Campus Connection.
  2. From the Student Homepage, click the Financial Aid tile.
  3. Select the appropriate aid year by clicking Change on the left sidebar.
  4. Click Outside Aid on the left sidebar.
  5. Click the plus sign (+).
  6. Enter the following information:
    • Award: Select from the drop-down menu or select Other
    • Category: Select Scholarship
    • Award Description: Indicate the source of the funds. (e.g., Dollars for Scholars, Smith Family Foundation, etc.)
    • Amount: Enter the award amount.
  7. Click Submit in the upper right corner.
  8. Click Yes to confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning it is only applied after all other gift aid is applied (e.g., grants, scholarships, waivers from federal, state, institutional or external sources). Examples of gift aid include but are not limited to:
    • Grants
      • North Dakota State Grant
      • Federal Pell Grant
      • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
    • Scholarships
      • NDSU-funded (e.g., named, departmental, Foundation, athletics)
      • External (e.g., high school and other community-based scholarships such as VFW or Dollars for Scholars)
    • Tuition Waivers
      • NDSU-funded (e.g., Land Grant Access Award)
      • State-mandated (e.g., Veteran dependent, ND National Guard, Law Enforcement)
    • Third Party Payments
      • Employment reimbursement or payment programs
      • Military and veteran benefits (i.e. Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33)
  • The dollar amount of the Tuition Award Program will vary depending on the amount of other gift aid received.
  • If eligible, the program will cover base tuition and mandatory student fees for the fall and spring semesters. The program does not cover the new student fee, books, housing, meal plan or other miscellaneous charges.

Yes, this can happen if you meet the eligibility requirements but are receiving enough gift aid from other sources to cover the costs of base tuition and mandatory student fees.

Generally speaking, gift aid refers to financial assistance students receive that does not have to be repaid. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NAFSAA) defines gift aid on their website.

Pell-eligible refers to eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant. Students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and have high financial need based on the FAFSA application may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant if additional factors are met. The FAFSA application is required to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant. Learn more about the Federal Pell Grant on our website.

The SAI is calculated using information provided on the FAFSA, and is used to determine financial aid eligibility. Learn more on the Federal Student Aid website.

Yes, the FAFSA application is required for consideration each year. The FAFSA application must be completed every year by stated deadlines to determine financial aid eligibility.

Both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 FAFSA applications are currently available. NDSU’s FAFSA priority deadline is Feb. 1, and the federal FAFSA school code is 002997.

If you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above, you will be considered for this scholarship program. NDSU hopes to provide a preliminary scholarship amount in Spring 2025 when initial financial aid award notices are sent. PLEASE NOTE: If you receive gift aid from other sources after you receive your financial aid award notice, the amount received through this scholarship program will be adjusted. In other words, the amount of this scholarship can change over time depending on a number of factors.

An agreement between North Dakota and Minnesota makes students eligible for tuition comparable to resident tuition. All Minnesota residents attending NDSU must apply for reciprocity through the MN Office of Higher Education. Submit your reciprocity application by July 1 to ensure you receive the accurate tuition rate and avoid mid-semester financial aid corrections. When viewing your student account charges, look for the term “MN Resident.” If your charges are listed as MSEP, you are not receiving the Minnesota Resident tuition rate. Contact NDSU One Stop with questions or to confirm your assigned tuition rate.

No – International students are not eligible for federal financial aid and thus cannot complete the FAFSA. However, NDSU does offer some partial scholarships specifically for international undergraduate applicants. More information on these awards can be found on our international undergraduate scholarships page.

NDSU Financial Aid and Scholarships recognizes the information reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may not reflect your current financial situation or ability to pay for educational expenses. If you are an undergraduate student and you or your family has experienced one or more of the special circumstances listed on our website, you may submit the Special Circumstance Form to have your financial aid eligibility re-evaluated. Generally, Special Circumstance Forms are based on drastic changes in a family’s financial situation. The Special Circumstance process does not include minor adjustments in a family’s income.

The Tuition Award Program covers only base tuition and the corresponding mandatory student fees. It does not cover the new student fee, books, housing, meal plan, or other miscellaneous charges. Other forms of financial aid (e.g., federal loans) may be used to address these expenses.

Gift aid that exceeds the cost of base undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees may be used to cover additional college costs. Additionally, federal loans or private loans can be considered to cover additional college costs. We encourage you to review NDSU’s estimated cost of attendance on our website or connect with your Admission Counselor if you have questions.

Yes, please submit the FAFSA by the deadlines listed under the ‘Eligibility’ section above.

  • Collaborative course enrollment will only count toward the full-time requirement for students enrolled in Bismarck nursing, elementary education and social work undergraduate programs.
  • Costs of all other collaborative course enrollment are not eligible to be covered by this program.

  • This award is currently available to new students beginning Summer or Fall 2026, or returning NDSU students who first enrolled at NDSU in Summer 2025, Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.

No, the Tuition Award Program is available only in the fall and spring semesters.

Learn More

We’re ready to answer your questions. Contact your Admission Counselor to gather additional information about this scholarship.

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