Admission Overview

NDSU is dedicated to your success. We prepare you to solve challenges that will shape a better world. No matter what type of student you are, we want to make your application experience as seamless as possible.

Domestic Undergraduate Admission

Choose one of the menu options on the right-hand side of the page to learn more about your specific application process and requirements.  Prospective students can also visit the Office of Admission website for undergraduate domestic and permanent resident student application information. 

International Undergraduate Admission

The Office of International Student & Study Abroad Services processes international undergraduate applications. Visit the Global Programs and Services website for undergraduate international student application requirements and how to apply.

Graduate Admission

Admission to the Graduate School is a selective process intended to identify applicants who are outstanding among recipients of baccalaureate degrees. For graduate admission information, please visit the Graduate Admission catalog page or the Graduate School website.

Readmission

For more information on returning to NDSU as a former student, select the Undergraduate Readmission tab. 

Domestic First-Year Admission

Applications for Domestic First-Year Admission are evaluated on an individual basis. The university uses selective criteria in order to assure adequate preparation which will enable students to be successful in their academic pursuits. For full procedures, deadlines and to apply for Domestic First-Year Admission, follow the First-Year Admission Procedures outlined online.

International First-Year Admission

For information regarding applications for international first-year undergraduate applicants, refer to the International Students application information on the Global Programs and Services website.

Early Entry Admission

The Early Entry Program is open for students in high school grades 10-12, and have a 3.0 GPA is recommended. 

Students are encouraged to begin the application process at least one month prior to the semester they wish to take classes. See the Early Entry Admission information to ensure all necessary steps are completed. To begin enrollment as an Early Entry student, contact the Office of Admission.

The Early Entry Program is different from early admission status. Early admission is primarily used for high-school students as conditional acceptance into a specific degree program. Early entry is also different from dual credit in that you do not earn high school credit for these courses unless you seek permission from your high school or home school.

International Students Early Entry Admission

International student applicants attending high school in the United States who are interested in Early Entry admission should first begin by contacting the international undergraduate admission team in the Office of Global Programs and Services.

Domestic Transfer Admission

NDSU considers a transfer applicant’s overall academic performance when making an admission decision. An applicant’s cumulative college grade point average (GPA) and high school preparation (if applicable) are taken into consideration when evaluating an applicant. For full procedures, deadlines and to apply for Domestic Transfer Admission, follow the Transfer Admission Procedures outlined online.

International Transfer Admission

For information regarding applications for international transfer applicants, please see the International Admission tab on this catalog page.

International Student Admission

All international undergraduate applicants who will require an F-1 or J-1 visa must demonstrate English proficiency by providing official results from an approved proficiency exam such as the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, ACT, or SAT. Students may review English Proficiency requirements and waiver countries on the Admission website. For full admission procedures, deadlines, and to apply, follow the steps outlined on the Global Programs and Services International Admission page. Students who have been suspended from other institutions will not be considered for admission to NDSU until the suspension has been lifted by that institution or until one year has elapsed.

First-year international undergraduate admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants should have an educational background in the core curriculum of  laboratory science, mathematics, social science, and English. A secondary or high school grade point average of at least 2.75 (4.0 scale) or the equivalent in core subjects is recommended. 

Transfer international undergraduate admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A student is considered a transfer applicant if they have 24 or more transferable college credits completed at the time of application. A decision will be based on your college academic record including coursework attempted, coursework completed and cumulative GPA from all previously attended post-secondary institutions. A post-secondary/university grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (4.0 scale) or the equivalent, is recommended.

Non-Degree Seeking Admission

Special status is reserved for non-degree seeking students who wish to enroll in a limited number of courses at NDSU. Students are limited in the number of credits they can complete as a non-degree student and are not eligible for financial aid. Students currently enrolled at another college or university who plan to take limited coursework at NDSU with intention of transferring credits back to their home institution, but not earn an NDSU degree, should follow application procedures for non-degree student status.

Some courses are limited to students in select programs of study, in specified classifications (i.e., junior or senior status), or are restricted by prerequisite/corequisite coursework. Such information is listed in the course descriptions of the catalog or in the course search feature in the student information system, Campus Connection. If restrictions are placed on the courses in which you are interested in enrolling as a non-degree seeking student, permission to enroll may be sought through the academic department responsible for teaching the class.

For full procedures on domestic undergraduate non-degree seeking admission, visit the Non-Degree Seeking Applicants website. 

International Non-Degree Seeking Admission

International undergraduate applicants seeking non-degree admission should visit the International Admission website.

Selective and Limited Admission Undergraduate Majors

Admission to a number of undergraduate majors is selective and/or limited and admission to the university does not guarantee entrance to these majors. Students begin in the pre-major program and supplemental applications or specific pre-program classes may be required before students are admitted to the major-level program. Some programs require that minimum standards be met and maintained for continuous enrollment and advancement in the program. Students can refer to the official curriculum guide for information or contact the department that offers the major for further pre-major and major-level requirements. 

Undergraduate & Pharm D Reactivation

Undergraduate or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students who discontinue enrollment (voluntarily or involuntarily) for one or more semesters - excluding summer - must reactivate their academic record before they can register for classes. 

To begin, students must submit the Undergraduate Reactivation Form. Because deadlines apply, starting this process early is strongly recommended.

Transcripts & GPA Requirements for Transfer Coursework

If students attend any other institutions during their absence from NDSU, students must disclose those institutions on the Reactivation Form and submit official transcripts for review.

• North Dakota University System (NDUS) Transcripts: NDSU can retrieve these transcripts automatically at no charge, but students must list the institution(s) on the form.
• Non-NDUS Transcripts: Students must arrange to have official transcripts sent directly to the address listed in the Previous Enrollment section of the form.

Important: Reactivation decisions may be placed on hold or rescinded if all official transcripts are not received.

To qualify for reactivation, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 across all institutions attended since leaving NDSU. If the student's GPA falls below 2.00 at an individual school, the student can still qualify if the combined GPA across all post-NDSU institutions averages 2.00 or higher.

Deadlines & Academic Standing Pathways

The deadline and review process depends on the student's academic standing at the time the student left NDSU.

1. Students Who Left NDSU in Good Standing

This applies to students who left NDSU with a cumulative NDSU GPA of 2.00 or higher

• Submission Deadline: No later than 5:00 PM on Friday of the first week of classes for the term the student is planning to re-enroll.
• Late Policy: Forms will not be processed after this deadline; students must submit a new form for a future term.

2. Students Who Left NDSU on Academic Alert or Continued Alert

(Note: Prior to Fall 2022, these standings were termed Warning, Probation, and Continued Probation.)

Students who left with these deficiencies remain eligible to enroll, but face specific transcript constraints:

• If students attended other institutions: You must submit official transcripts. Reactivations cannot be considered until these transcripts are received and confirm a cumulative transfer GPA of 2.00 or higher. Early submission is highly recommended.
• If students did NOT attend other institutions: The form must be received no later than 5:00 PM on Friday of the first week of classes for your target term. Forms received after this deadline will not be processed.

3. Students Returning From an NDSU Academic Suspension

Students who have served the university's mandatory academic suspension period (minimum of two semesters) must adhere to the earlier deadlines to allow for committee review. Readmission is not guaranteed.

• The Review Process: A readmission committee evaluate the student's previous NDSU performance alongside a required statement/documentation that you must upload in the Returning from an NDSU Academic Suspension section of the form. Early submission ensures adequate time to build an educational plan with an academic advisor should readmission be approved.
• Transfer Coursework: The 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA standard applies to any coursework completed at other institutions during the suspension period. 

Suspension Reactivation Deadlines

• Spring Semester - Deadline = December 1 (by midnight)
• Fall Semester - Deadline = August 1 (by midnight)
• Summer Semester - Not Supported

Summer Enrollment Policy: Students returning from an academic suspension are not permitted to return during a summer term. Due to the accelerated pace of summer coursework, historical institutional data indicates students are significantly more successful when returning in a standard Fall or Spring semester.