North Dakota has a small population spread across a very large area, and its college map reflects that. Instead of dozens of campuses packed around one capital, the state has two research universities, a ring of regional and two-year colleges, five tribal colleges, and a scattering of private and career schools. Our database holds 42 college listings across 19 cities. This page explains how those schools are organized, so you know who to call first.

How Public Higher Education Is Governed in North Dakota

Eleven public campuses make up the North Dakota University System, usually shortened to NDUS. The State Board of Higher Education governs the system, sets policy, approves budgets and hires campus presidents. The system office is in Bismarck. Each campus still runs its own admissions, registrar, financial aid and billing offices, so those are the departments that handle your personal file.

The eleven public campuses fall into three groups:

Private colleges, tribal colleges and career schools sit outside that system. Tribal governments charter their own colleges, and private schools answer to their own boards. Most degree-granting schools are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, while hair design and nursing programs also answer to state licensing boards. That split matters when you need to know who can confirm your credits or resolve a complaint.

Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks: Where the Campuses Cluster

Fargo is North Dakota's largest city and the heart of Cass County, which has the most college listings in our database. North Dakota State University anchors the city. The named Fargo entry we hold is Josef's West Academy, 4501 15th Avenue South, 701-235-9910. Across the Red River, Moorhead, Minnesota adds several more campuses, and the Minnesota-North Dakota tuition reciprocity agreement lets students in both states cross the border for reduced rates. Terms change over time, so confirm them with the admissions office before you apply.

Bismarck, in Burleigh County, packs a wider mix into one city than anywhere else on our list. Bismarck State College sits at 1500 Edwards Avenue (701-224-5400). The University of Mary, a Benedictine university, is at 7500 University Drive (701-255-7500), with its Butler Center at 505 South 7th Street (701-355-8030). Sanford College of Nursing is at 512 North 7th Street (701-323-6271), and United Tribes Technical College is at 3315 University Drive (701-255-3285). The capital also hosts the NDUS system office, which helps with questions that cross campuses.

Grand Forks County is home to the University of North Dakota at 264 Centennial Drive (800-225-5863), the state's oldest university. West of the city, Grand Forks Air Force Base hosts a Lake Region State College campus at 344 Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard (701-594-8192). Service members, spouses and base employees use it to take classes close to work and home. Civilians should call ahead, because base access rules apply.

Rural, Reservation and Small-City Colleges Across North Dakota

Outside the three metro areas, a college is often one of the largest employers and training centers in town. The tribal colleges are a good example. Turtle Mountain Community College serves Belcourt in Rolette County (Bureau of Indian Affairs Road 7, 701-477-7862). Fort Berthold Community College is in New Town, Mountrail County (220 8th Avenue East, 701-627-4738). Cankdeska Cikana Community College is in Fort Totten, Benson County (214 1st Avenue, 701-766-4415), and Sitting Bull College is at 9299 North Dakota 24 in Fort Yates (701-854-8000). United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck completes the five.

Tribal colleges are chartered by tribal governments, and many combine certificate and associate programs with Native language and culture courses. Each sets its own enrollment rules. Ask whether non-members can enroll and which tribal scholarships or grants you might qualify for.

Small-city public campuses fill in the rest of the map. Dakota College at Bottineau is at 105 Simrall Boulevard (701-228-2277) in Bottineau County. Lake Region State College is at 1801 College Drive North in Devils Lake, Ramsey County (701-662-1600). Dickinson State University is at 291 Campus Drive in Stark County (701-483-2507), and Williston State College is at 1410 University Avenue (701-774-4200). Mayville State University (701-788-2301), Valley City State University (701-845-7990) and North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton (701-671-2403) serve eastern North Dakota. The University of Jamestown, a private school at 6000 College Lane in Stutsman County, answers at 701-252-3467.

Distance and weather shape every plan here. Blizzards can close Interstate 94 and Interstate 29 with little notice, and rural campuses sometimes delay opening. Check the state's 511 travel information service and the campus alert page before any winter visit.

Career Academies, Nursing and Church-Related Schools

Not every listing is a traditional college. Several entries are hair design academies, which prepare students for a license rather than a degree. Headquarters Academy of Hair Design is at 108 Main Street South in Minot, Ward County (701-852-8329). In Bismarck, JZ Trend Academy Paul Mitchell Partner School is at 1320 Tacoma Avenue (701-223-8804), and The Hair Academy is at 2101 East Broadway Avenue (701-255-3547). Cosmetology licensing in North Dakota runs through the State Board of Cosmetology. Ask each academy how many training hours it requires and what tuition and kit fees you will pay.

Ellendale, in Dickey County, has two entries for Trinity Bible College. One reads Trinity Bible College and Graduate School at 50 6th Avenue South (888-822-2329), and the other is at 50 6th Avenue North (701-349-3621). They may describe the same church-affiliated school, so ask which number reaches admissions. Nursing is another specialty. Sanford College of Nursing in Bismarck prepares students for licensure, and the North Dakota Board of Nursing oversees nurse licensing in the state.

Questions to Ask Before You Enroll at a North Dakota College

A few checks save time and money, whatever type of school you choose.

Start with accreditation. Ask the school for the name of its accrediting agency, then verify it with that agency or the U.S. Department of Education. Next, ask about transfer. Public campuses usually publish transfer guides, but private and career schools may not, so request in writing which credits will move to another college.

Then price the full program. Ask for tuition, fees, books, housing and program-specific costs such as a cosmetology kit or nursing clinical fees. File the FAFSA when it opens in the fall, and ask each financial aid office about its own priority dates. The Bank of North Dakota, which the state owns, offers student loans, and many campuses list scholarships on their websites.

Finally, call or visit during weekday business hours. Smaller offices may close at lunch or run reduced summer schedules. Veterans should ask for the campus certifying official, who handles GI Bill paperwork. Bring photo identification and any transcripts you already have.

Public colleges and universities in North Dakota offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The North Dakota state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 19 cities across North Dakota. They are spread across 17 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in North Dakota should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in North Dakota applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many North Dakota institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across North Dakota to find the nearest location.

Narrowing Your Search by County in North Dakota

Counties give you a quick way to narrow the list. Start with the county where you live or plan to study, then widen the search to its neighbors. The east, with Cass and Grand Forks counties, holds the two research universities and the widest range of programs. Burleigh County covers Bismarck and its mix of two-year, private, nursing and tribal options. Farther north and west, Ward County around Minot, Bottineau County, Ramsey County and Stark County hold smaller campuses, where classes are modest in size and campus housing can be limited.

Rural students have more choices than they might expect. In Dickey County, home to Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, and in other small counties, local campuses and tribal colleges offer certificates and associate degrees close to home. Many also offer online and hybrid sections, and dual-credit courses let high school students earn college credit before graduation. A school counselor can explain which local campus accepts those credits.

Phone numbers in our listings come from public records and can change. If a line is disconnected, search for the campus main switchboard on its official site, or stop by the admissions office on a weekday. Bring photo identification and transcripts. Veterans using benefits should also bring discharge papers (DD-214).

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in North Dakota

The State Board of Higher Education governs the North Dakota University System, which includes eleven public campuses: the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Dickinson State University, Lake Region State College, Mayville State University, Minot State University, North Dakota State College of Science, Valley City State University and Williston State College. The system office is in Bismarck. For admissions, billing or records, though, contact the campus itself, because each school manages its own student files, deadlines and appeals.

Yes. North Dakota and Minnesota have a long-running tuition reciprocity agreement that lets residents of one state attend participating public colleges in the other at reduced rates. It matters most in Fargo, where Moorhead sits just across the Red River. Eligibility rules, participating campuses and rates are updated over time, and some programs may be excluded. Ask the admissions or financial aid office at the campus you want, and get the current terms in writing before you pay a deposit or sign a housing contract.

Our listings include Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, Fort Berthold Community College in New Town, Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten, Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates and United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. Each sets its own enrollment and financial aid rules. Many welcome non-Native students, but policies and funding differ from campus to campus. Call the admissions office, ask about program options, and ask which scholarships or tribal grants might apply to your situation before you apply.

Our database lists Headquarters Academy of Hair Design in Minot (701-852-8329), plus JZ Trend Academy Paul Mitchell Partner School (701-223-8804) and The Hair Academy (701-255-3547) in Bismarck. The North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology handles licensing, not the academy. Before enrolling, ask how many training hours the program requires, what tuition and kit fees cost, whether federal student aid is accepted, and how many graduates pass the licensing exam. Visit in person, since you will spend most of your hours there.

Ask the school which agency accredits it, then verify that claim yourself. Most degree-granting colleges in the state, public and private, are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. You can confirm any school through the U.S. Department of Education's database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. Programs such as nursing also need separate state approval, and the North Dakota Board of Nursing oversees nurse licensure. Accreditation affects credit transfer, federal aid and employer recognition, so check it before you apply and again before you pay.

Yes. Lake Region State College runs a campus at 344 Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard on Grand Forks AFB, reachable at 701-594-8192. The University of North Dakota, at 264 Centennial Drive in Grand Forks (800-225-5863), is also nearby. Base access rules apply to the on-base campus, so call ahead if you are a civilian. Active-duty members and veterans should ask about tuition assistance, GI Bill benefits and credit for military training. Most campuses have a staff member who handles veteran certification and can walk you through the paperwork.

Fall classes generally begin in late August. Application deadlines vary by school, and selective programs such as nursing often close earlier than general admission. File the FAFSA as soon as it opens in the fall, and ask each aid office about its priority date. Winter visits need extra planning. Blizzards can close highways and delay campus openings from November through March, so check the state's 511 travel service and call the admissions office the morning you travel. A phone or video appointment makes a good backup.