University of North Dakota vs. NDSU

Should I go to University of North Dakota or North Dakota State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of North Dakota or NDSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
University of North Dakota vs. North Dakota State University Main Campus comparison
University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

University of North Dakota NDSU
Location Grand Forks, ND Fargo, ND
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,876 12,242
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #384 #568
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website und.edu ndsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of North Dakota NDSU
Tuition (In State) $9,237 $9,309
Tuition (Out of State) $13,856 $13,963
Room & Board $10,170 $9,300
Avg Net Price $17,359 $15,962
Avg Grant Aid $6,387 $5,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 77%

Admission

University of North Dakota NDSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,597 8,535
Admitted 5,494 8,166
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 95.7%
Enrolled % 31.9% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 19/25
SAT Range 1110/1290 968/1216
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

University of North Dakota NDSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (14%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

University of North Dakota NDSU
Graduation Rate 54% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,700 $53,600
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $23,300
Median Loan Payment $253 $240

Diversity

University of North Dakota NDSU
% Men 50% 49%
% Women 50% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 86%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

University of North Dakota NDSU
% In-State 38% 35%
% Out-of-State 60% 65%

Campus

University of North Dakota NDSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Dakota is larger than than NDSU based on total student enrollment (13,876 students vs. 12,242 students)

University of North Dakota vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of North Dakota or NDSU?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 0.8% more expensive to attend than University of North Dakota for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $9,237.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at NDSU than University of North Dakota ($13,963.00 vs. $13,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than University of North Dakota ($15,962 vs. $17,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 9.4% lower than costs at University of North Dakota ($9,300 vs. $10,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Dakota than North Dakota State University Main Campus (86% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Dakota students is 11.4% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($6,387 vs. $5,732)

University of North Dakota vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of North Dakota or NDSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NDSU or University of North Dakota .

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 3 points higher than at University of North Dakota (1088)
  • Incoming University of North Dakota students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at NDSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at University of North Dakota (3.5)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than University of North Dakota (83.3%)

University of North Dakota vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of North Dakota or NDSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NDSU and University of North Dakota.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Dakota is the same as at North Dakota State University Main Campus (54% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from University of North Dakota earn on average $1,100 more per year than NDSU graduates after ten years. ($54,700 vs. $53,600)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than University of North Dakota graduates. ($23,300 vs. $24,500)
  • NDSU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than University of North Dakota graduates. ($240 vs. $253)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of North Dakota students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/