There are twenty colleges and universities in the U.S. state of North Dakota that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Grand Forks-based University of North Dakota (UND) is the largest public institution with an enrollment of 13,876 students as of Fall 2022 enrollment data. Fargo-based North Dakota State University (NDSU) is the second largest public institution, with an enrollment of 12,242 students for Fall 2022.

UND, founded February 27, 1883 (six years prior to North Dakota's statehood), is the state's oldest and longest operating post-secondary institution. University of Jamestown (UJ), founded under the name Jamestown College on October 31, 1883, by the Presbyterian Church,[1] is the state's second-oldest established post-secondary institution. Mayville State University (MSU), originally named Mayville Normal School, founded in 1889 by the first North Dakota Legislative Assembly,[2] is the state's third-oldest established post-secondary institution but is the second longest operating school. NDSU, originally named the North Dakota Agricultural College, was founded on March 8, 1890, as part of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890,[3] is the state's fourth-oldest post-secondary institution and third longest operating school.

The North Dakota University System contains eleven public colleges. There are also seven private universities in North Dakota. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, a part of UND, is the state's only medical school.[4] The state's only law school is the University of North Dakota School of Law, which is another UND affiliate.[5]

The majority of North Dakota's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).[6] Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National League for Nursing (NLNAC), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Extant institutions

Institution Location(s) Control[note 1] Type[note 2] Enrollment[7]
(Fall 2024) 		Founded Accreditation[7]
Bismarck State College Bismarck Public Baccalaureate/associate's college 4,206 1939[8] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Cankdeska Cikana Community College Fort Totten Public Tribal college 239 1974[9] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau Public Associate's college 1,204 1906[10] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Dickinson State University Dickinson Public Baccalaureate college 1,410 1918[11] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), NASM, NCATE, NLNAC
Lake Region State College Devils Lake Public Associate's college 1,897 1941[12] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Mayville State University Mayville Public Baccalaureate college 1,134 1889[13] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), NCATE
Minot State University Minot Public Master's university 2,751 1913[14] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), ASHA, NASM, NCATE, NLNAC
North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public Associate's college 3,367 1903[15] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), ADA, AOTA, NLNAC
North Dakota State University Fargo Public Research university 11,952 1890-03-08[16] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), ACPE, AAMFT, ADA, CCNE, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College New Town Public Tribal college 233 1973[17] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Rasmussen University Fargo Private for-profit Baccalaureate/associate's college 52 2006[18] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Sitting Bull College Fort Yates Public Tribal college 309 1973[19] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Trinity Bible College Ellendale Private not-for-profit Special-focus institution 275 1948[20] ABHE
Turtle Mountain College Belcourt Private not-for-profit Tribal college 872 1972[21] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
United Tribes Technical College Bismarck Private not-for-profit Tribal college 576 1969[22] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), NLNAC
University of Jamestown Jamestown Private not-for-profit Master's university 1,376 1883-10-31[23] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), NLNAC
University of Mary Bismarck, Fargo, Williston, Watford City, Grand Forks AFB Private not-for-profit Doctoral university 3,861 1959[24] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), AOTA, APTA, CCNE
University of North Dakota Grand Forks Public Research university 15,019 1883-02-27[25] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), ABA, ADA, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, AANA, LCME, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE
Valley City State University Valley City Public Baccalaureate college 1,806 1890-10-13[26] Higher Learning Commission (HLC), NASM, NCATE
Williston State College Williston Public Associate's college 934 1957[27] Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Defunct institutions

Institution Location(s) Control Founded Closed Ref
Assumption College Richardton Private 1899 1971 [28]
Dakota Business College Fargo Private 1890 1978 [29]
North Dakota State Normal and Industrial School Ellendale Public 1899 1971 [30]
Tower University Tower City Private 1886 1889 [31]

Key

Abbreviation Accrediting agency
AAMFT American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
AANA American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
ABA American Bar Association
ACPE Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
ADA American Dental Association
ADA American Dietetic Association
AOTA American Occupational Therapy Association
APA American Psychological Association
APTA American Physical Therapy Association
ASHA American Speech–Language–Hearing Association
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
LCME Liaison Committee on Medical Education
NASAD National Association of Schools of Art and Design
NASM National Association of Schools of Music
NAST National Association of Schools of Theatre
HLC Higher Learning Commission
NCATE National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
NLNAC National League for Nursing

See also

Notes

  1. School control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
  2. School types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

References

  1. "University of Jamestown". University of Jamestown.
  2. "Mayville State University History". Mayville State University.
  3. "NDSU History Archives". North Dakota State University.
  4. "The School of Medicine & Health Sciences Marks a Century of Excellence". University of North Dakota. May 2005. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012.
  5. "History of the UND School of Law". University of North Dakota School of Law. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
  6. "The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association". North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
  7. "College Navigator". United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.
  8. "About BSC". Bismarck State College.
  9. "History". Cankdeska Cikana Community College. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011.
  10. "About DCB". Dakota College at Bottineau. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011.
  11. "History Of Dickinson State University". Dickinson State University. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
  12. "History of LRSC". Lake Region State College. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012.
  13. "History". Mayville State University.
  14. "A Brief History of MSU". Minot State University.
  15. "History". North Dakota State College of Science. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011.
  16. "North Dakota State University History". North Dakota State University.
  17. "History". Fort Berthold Community College. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011.
  18. "Rasmussen to graduate 42". Bismarck Tribune. December 13, 2007.
  19. "The History of Sitting Bull College". Sitting Bull College.
  20. "History". Trinity Bible College.
  21. "About Us". Turtle Mountain Community College. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011.
  22. "Founding". United Tribes Technical College. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
  23. "About JC". Jamestown College. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012.
  24. "Our Heritage: History". University of Mary.
  25. "Why UND". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012.
  26. "History of the University and Its Presidency". Valley City State University.
  27. "History". Williston State College. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012.
  28. "Abbey History". Assumption Abbey.
  29. "Fargo, North Dakota – Dakota Business College". Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University.
  30. "North Dakota Colleges that have Closed, Merged, Changed Names". Westminster College. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012.
  31. "Tower University- Prairie Public". Prairie Public Broadcasting.