Best Research Universities in North Dakota 2024

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Interested in attending a STEM school in North Dakota? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Colleges and Universities in North Dakota

The majority of the higher learning institutes in North Dakota are public schools and almost all of the schools could be considered small schools, serving less than 5,000 students. The state’s two largest schools, however, the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University in Fargo, each have a student population around 12,000 students. Tuition at both of these schools comes in just below the national average at $9,000.

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At UND and NDSU, students can study fields such as engineering, chemistry, law, and education. Additionally, students can attend one of the state’s five private schools, three of which have religious affiliations. Students who attend these schools can pursue degrees in fields like nursing, religious studies, education, and earth sciences. North Dakota also offers a private tribal college, United Tribes Technical College, located in the state’s capital, Bismarck, where students can expect to pay around $4,000 in tuition fees.

As the country’s number one producer of honey and sunflowers, and home to part of the international Peace Garden, North Dakota’s landscape is a thing of natural beauty. This magnificent state also has its fair share of one-of-a-kind attractions, including the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, which features world-class minerals and fossils, and the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center, which gives an inside look at this Native American tribe’s unique culture and traditions. The state also boasts 19 colleges and universities for students hoping to earn a higher education degree.

Discover more about earning your degree in North Dakota by exploring some of the state’s top programs.


What are North Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

North Dakota’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

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A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 3 research universities in North Dakota. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

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Best Research Universities in North Dakota 2023

  1. #1

    University of North Dakota

    Grand Forks , ND
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    17K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of North Dakota

    Cost of Degree: $10,951
    Expenses: $14,416
    Starting Salary: $57,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1092/22

    Career Outlook for degree at North Dakota State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,792
    Expenses: $13,576
    Starting Salary: $55,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. #3

    University of Mary

    Bismarck , ND
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $21K

    Acceptance

    81%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1208/24

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Mary

    Cost of Degree: $20,900
    Expenses: $12,286
    Starting Salary: $53,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Mary known for?

    University of Mary’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

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Find the Best Research Universities in North Dakota for Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. University of North Dakota
  2. North Dakota State University
  3. University of Mary

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

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