Admission

Our diverse student body is comprised of students from various backgrounds and identities, each seeking an academically rigorous education within a supportive community.  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 International Undergraduate Admission website for undergraduate international student application requirements and to find out 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. The following minimum qualifications are required of all students seeking an advanced degree:

1. The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution of recognized standing.
2. The applicant must have adequate preparation in the chosen field of study and must show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
3. At the baccalaureate level, the applicant must have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0, or equivalent, to attain full standing in a graduate degree program. Applicants whose last degree completed is a graduate degree may be admitted in full standing if the final GPA of that degree is at least 3.0 or equivalent.
4. Each program may set higher qualifications and may require the submission of additional evidence of academic performance.

A student shall be permitted to register for graduate study only after formal admission. Programs make recommendations on all applications, but the final admission decision is the responsibility of the Dean of the Graduate College.  Prospective students can view admission information in the Graduate Catalog or log onto the Graduate School website for domestic and international student application information.

Readmission

For more information on returning to NDSU as a former student, select 'Undergraduate Readmission' in the menu on the right-hand side. 

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 applicants, please see the International Admission catalog page.

Early Entry Admission

The Early Entry Program allows high school students to take courses at NDSU while still enrolled in high school. Students who are in their junior year of high school and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher are ideal candidates for the program. Early Entry students pay a reduced tuition and fees rate.

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 Procedures to ensure all necessary steps are completed. Students are required to participate in a brief orientation session with an admission representative following registration. To begin enrollment as an Early Entry student, contact the Office of Admission.

Dual Credit Admission

Dual Credit allows high school students to earn both high school and college credit through a college course offered through NDSU. It is for North Dakota high school students, who are enrolled in grades 10, 11, and 12 and who have permission from their school's administrator. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended. Dual Credit students pay a subsidized tuition rate.  See NDSU’s dual credit website for additional information about tuition and fees.

Students who are interested in dual credit should first speak with their high school counselor or principal to determine academic readiness to participate in a college-level class. A high school counselor or principal can assist students in getting enrolled in a dual-credit course. Students are encouraged to begin the application process at least one month prior to the semester they wish to take classes.  See the Dual Credit Admission form. Students from outside of North Dakota cannot enroll as a dual credit student but may be eligible for Early Entry. Additional questions can be directed to the Office of Teaching and Learning.

International Students Early Entry or Dual Credit Admission

International student applicants attending high school in the United States, who are interested in either of these options, should first begin by contacting the international undergraduate admission team in the Office of International Student & Study Abroad 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 catalog page.

International Student Admission

All international undergraduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by providing official results from an approved proficiency exam such as the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, ACT, or SAT. There are exemptions to this requirement located here. Contact the Office of International Student & Study Abroad Services if you feel you qualify for this exemption. For full admission procedures, deadlines, and to apply, follow the steps outlined on the 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.

For 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. 

FOR 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.

For full procedures on graduate non-degree seeking admission, visit the Non-Degree Graduate Applicants website. 

Selective and Limited Admission Programs

Admission to a number of academic programs is selective and/or limited. Admission to the university does not guarantee entrance to a specific major. Supplemental applications may be required for students seeking admission to professional-level programs. Some programs require that minimum standards be met and maintained for continuous enrollment and advancement in the program. Contact your respective department for further admission criteria.

Undergraduate Reactivation/Readmission

Undergraduate or Doctor of Pharmacy students who discontinue enrollment, either voluntary or involuntary, for one or more semesters (except summer) must request to reactivate their record before being eligible to enroll in classes. To begin this process, students complete and submit the Undergraduate Reactivation/Petition for Readmission form. It is recommended that all students begin this process early but deadlines do apply.

During a discontinued enrollment period, students who attended one or more institutions must identify those institutions on the Reactivation/Petition form and arrange to have official transcripts submitted for review. NDSU is able to retrieve academic transcripts from other North Dakota University System (NDUS) institutions at no charge to students, but the institution must be identified on the form when submitted. Students must arrange for other transcripts from outside of the NDUS system to be sent to the address listed in the Previous Enrollment section of the form. Students should be aware that a reactivation decision could be placed on hold or rescinded if official transcripts are not received. Students seeking reactivation/readmission must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 at these other institutions. If the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 was not achieved, students are also considered for reactivation/readmission if their minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is meet by combining the GPA from ALL institutions attended.

Deadlines and Academic Standing Considerations

Students who discontinued enrollment from NDSU in good academic standing

Students who left NDSU in good academic standing (NDSU cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher) must submit the form no later than 5:00 PM on Friday of the first week of classes for the term the student is seeking to be re-enrolled. Reactivation forms will not be processed after this time/day and if the deadline is missed, students will have to submit a new reactivation form for a future semester. Students should be aware that a reactivation decision could be rescinded if official transcripts are not received before the start of the next semester or it is found the students' cumulative GPA at other institutions or all institutions does not meet the 2.00 minimum.

Students who discontinued enrollment from NDSU with an academic alert or Continued alert

Students who left the university with one of these academic deficiencies in their last semester at NDSU is considered to be eligible to enroll in classes. However, students who attended one or more institutions after leaving NDSU will be required to submit official transcripts before a reactivation decision can be granted. It is highly recommended a student submit the Reactivation form early and arrange to have transcripts send if this applies. Students need to be aware that a reactivation decision cannot be considered if these transcripts are not received or the cumulative GPA from these other institutions is not 2.00. For students who did not attend elsewhere, the latest a form may be received is no later than 5:00 PM on Friday of the first week of classes for the term the student would like to enroll. Reactivation forms will not be processed after this time/day and to be readmitted in a future semester, students will have to submit a new reactivation form for a future semester. (Prior to fall 2022 the standings were warning, probation and continued probation.)

Students who discontinued enrollment from NDSU as a result of an academic suspension (Petition for Readmission)

Students who served the university's imposed academic suspension for a minimum of two semesters must Petition for Readmission by the deadlines indicated below. It should be noted that readmission is not guaranteed but is influenced by the document the student must upload in the section titled Returning from an NDSU Academic Suspension. This document and the student's previous academic performance are assessed by a readmission committee.

As a result of this process, an earlier deadline is necessary to ensure that the committee has had adequate time to review the readmission material fully. Should the decision to readmit be granted, students require adequate time to find and use university resources, which may include meeting and discussing an educational plan for enrollment with an academic advisor. Forms submitted after the deadline will be considered for a future semester. The 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA standards described above will be applied to students who attended other institutions during the suspension period. The deadlines for the Petition for Readmission process are:

• Readmission consideration in a Spring semester = November 20 (until midnight)
• Readmission consideration in a Fall semester = July 20 (until midnight)
• Summer semester readmission is not supported. Students returning from an academic suspension are strongly discouraged from taking summer classes due to the expedited timeline of classes. Students are shown to be more successful returning in either a fall or spring semester.