North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, North Dakota · Public · 9,471 undergraduates · ndsu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Acceptance rate
95%
of applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$28,440Est.Estimate
$33,910 out of state
North Dakota State University-Main Campus is test optional for students starting in fall 2027: you choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. Its acceptance rate is 95%. The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 19 to 25. A year in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $28,440 for in-state students and $33,910 for out-of-state students before financial aid.
Updated
Your chances and merit aid at North Dakota State University-Main Campus
See your chances of admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
95% of applicants admitted
Target
Your ACT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
No estimate
That's for out-of-state students. .
Your cost before merit aid
$33,910
a year in 2027-28, from a $33,910 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Retake before you apply
There isn't enough data on this college's freshmen to say whether sending your SAT helps.
| Result | Now (1200) | With a 1300 |
|---|---|---|
| Your chances | Target | Likely |
Fine-tune this advice
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your GPA, test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: First-Year Students · Checked November 3, 2026
Acceptance rate
95%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
ACT composite 19 to 25
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$28,440
a year, in state
$33,910
a year, out of state (tuition $18,000)
- Tuition (in state)$12,530
What families pay after aid
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$11,551
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,944
- $48,001 to $75,000$11,418
- $75,001 to $110,000$15,226
- Over $110,000$18,993
Financial aidEstimate
46%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
81%
of freshmen receive grants
$6,409
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Finalist
$5,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
North Dakota programs for residents
North Dakota Scholarship
State program · In-state students
$750/semester ($500/quarter, clock-hour or apprenticeship term); max $6,000 total
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Post-Secondary Ready pathway (paired with Workforce Ready or Military Ready); Essential Skills; Post-Secondary Ready = test + 2 of: AP course C+, dual-credit English/math C+, Algebra II C+, 3 fine arts C+, AP exam 3+, IB exam 4+, 3.0 core GPA; plus complete a 2nd pathway (Workforce or Military)
- 3.00+ GPA, 1180+ SAT or 24+ ACT, Workforce Ready pathway test option (paired with Post-Secondary or Military Ready); Essential Skills; Workforce Ready = 4 CTE credits (2 in same plan of study) OR 3 credits same world/indigenous/sign language OR teaching pathway; test; + 2 of: Career Ready Practices course, dual-credit C+, industry credential, 40-hr workplace learning, 40-hr work-based learning, NDSA/NDA+ level 3+
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,250Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 122 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 124 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | Elective Credit (100 or 200 level) |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ART 210 & 211 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 111 and 100L |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIOL 150, BIOL 150L, BIOL 151, & BIOL 151L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 165 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 165 & 166 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | Free Elective (CHEM 1XX) |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 121, CHEM 121L, CHEM 122, & CHEM 122L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 225 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CSCI 160 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CSCI 159 |
| Drawing | 3 | 6 | ART 130 & 230 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 110 or 112 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 220 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENGL 110 & 220 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIOL 124 and 100L |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 101 & 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | FREN 101 & 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | GERM 101 & 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 151 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 6 | Free Elective (MUSC 1XX) |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | Free Elective (PHYS 1XX) |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 211/L |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 212/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 212 & PHYS 212L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | PHYS 252/L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 211/L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | PHYS 251/L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 107 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 111 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (TRNSFR 1XX) |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | SPAN 101 & 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (SPAN 1XX) |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Free Elective (STAT 1XX) |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 330 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLS 115 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 103 & 104 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | Free Elective (HIST 1XX) |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
65%
Come back for a second year
78%
Typical earnings
$65,925
a year, 10 years after starting here
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus$77,468
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 45 majors here have earnings data.
Common questions about North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Is North Dakota State University-Main Campus test optional for fall 2027?
Yes. North Dakota State University-Main Campus is test optional for students starting in fall 2027: you choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score.
What SAT score do you need to get into North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 19 to 25. A quarter scored above that range and a quarter below it.
What ACT score do you need to get into North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
The middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores had ACT scores of 19 to 25. A quarter scored above that range and a quarter below it.
What is the acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
The acceptance rate at North Dakota State University-Main Campus is 95%.
How much does North Dakota State University-Main Campus cost?
A year at North Dakota State University-Main Campus in 2027-28 is expected to cost about $28,440 for in-state students and $33,910 for out-of-state students before financial aid. After grants and scholarships, freshmen who got federal aid paid $15,636 a year on average.
Does North Dakota State University-Main Campus offer merit scholarships?
Yes. North Dakota State University-Main Campus offers a merit scholarship, the National Merit Finalist.
Does North Dakota State University-Main Campus give credit for AP exams?
Yes. North Dakota State University-Main Campus gives credit for all 40 AP exams it lists. 38 exams earn credit with a score of 3; the rest need a 4 or 5.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with North Dakota State University-Main Campus.