Students walk through the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)
Fall enrollment at North Dakota University System campuses is up nearly 4%, the highest enrollment recorded since 2014.
The 11 public colleges and universities have 47,522 students, according to figures released Wednesday. The system’s record enrollment was in 2011 at 48,883.
Williston State College saw the highest percentage growth in headcount with 11%, while North Dakota State College of Science reported a 9% enrollment jump, Bismarck State College reported an 8% increase and Mayville State University reported 7% growth.
The University of North Dakota, which leads the state in enrollment, saw a 5% increase and is at an all-time high with 15,844 students.
UND President Andy Armacost said the university has seen strong growth in new students the past two years.
“We’re grateful to be able to impact a large number of students with the great programs at UND,” Armacost said.
North Dakota State University has recorded the exact same fall headcount for the past three years at 11,952 students. NDSU showed a 3% increase in first-year students, alongside a significant rise in new international undergraduate students, according to a news release from the university.
NDSU has 95% of students enrolled in in-person programs, the highest number across the entire North Dakota University System, the release said.
“Students are choosing NDSU because they see a future in North Dakota,” NDSU President David Cook said in a statement.
Minot State University President Steve Shirley, in a Tuesday presentation to the State Board of Higher Education, said that while headcount at the school is flat, there is a 3% increase in full-time equivalent students that he said reflects a “nice little bump” in freshman enrollment — about a 15% increase.
“We’re excited about that,” he said.
Dickinson State University was the only school to show an enrollment decline, down 3%.
Dakota College at Bottineau had 3% enrollment growth. Lake Region State College and Valley City State University each reported 1% increases.
Enrollment trends are expected to be discussed Wednesday during a legislative committee meeting.
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