North Dakota State University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
North Dakota State University

North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Former names	North Dakota Agricultural College (1890–1960)
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	1890; 135 years ago (1890)
Parent institution	North Dakota University System
Accreditation	HLC
Endowment	$457 million (2021)
President	David J. Cook
Provost	David Bertolini
Academic staff	858
Administrative staff	1,720
Students	11,952 (fall 2024)
Location	Fargo , North Dakota , United States 46°53′30″N 96°48′00″W / 46.8917°N 96.8000°W / 46.8917; -96.8000
Campus	Urban – Fargo Campus: 258 acres (1.04 km2)
Colors	Green and Yellow
Nickname	Bison ("Thundering Herd")
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I Summit League Missouri Valley Football Conference Big 12
Mascot	Thundar

North Dakota State University (NDSU) is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. It started as North Dakota Agricultural College in 1890. NDSU is known as a "land-grant" university, which means it was given land by the government to focus on agriculture and engineering.

Today, NDSU offers many different study programs. Students can choose from over 90 undergraduate majors and many graduate programs. It is also a top research university, meaning its professors and students do a lot of important scientific studies. NDSU is a big part of North Dakota's economy, helping the state with jobs and money.

University History

How NDSU Started

North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC) was officially created on March 8, 1890. This was just one year after North Dakota became a state. The idea for an agricultural college had been around for seven years before that. NDAC was set up as North Dakota's special "land-grant" school.

The first president, Horace E. Stockbridge, started in October 1890. Classes began on September 8, 1891, in rented rooms. The first building on campus, College Hall (now called Old Main), was finished in 1892.

Growing and Changing Names

In 1908, the school's song, "The Yellow and The Green," was written. The next year, yellow and green were chosen as the official school colors.

NDAC kept growing and offering more types of studies. Because of this, its name was changed to North Dakota State University on November 8, 1960. This new name showed that the university taught more than just agriculture.

NDSU in the 2000s

Around the year 2000, NDSU began to grow a lot. For the first time, over 10,000 students attended in the fall of 2000. By 2009, there were over 14,000 students.

This growth helped research, sports, and campus buildings. Many new study programs were added. Several buildings were built or updated, like the Wallman Wellness Center and the Memorial Union. In 2004, all NDSU sports teams moved up to Division I.

In 2023, the university made some changes to its colleges to save money. They also planned to create new study programs to help students get jobs in the future.

University Campuses

Old Main at NDSU.

Ceres Hall on the southern area of campus.

The Ag Glenn Hill Center at NDSU.

The Wallman Wellness Center from the South.

NDSU has several locations. Its main campus is in Fargo, North Dakota. There are also NDSU buildings downtown and special agricultural research centers across the state.

Main Campus

The main campus covers 258 acres (1.04 km²) and has over one hundred buildings. The university's agriculture programs help keep the campus looking nice. The campus has a beautiful area called the Babbling Brook with waterfalls and seating for outdoor classes.

Campus Areas

• Southern Area: This part of campus has many of NDSU's oldest buildings.
• Central Area: Here you'll find many academic buildings and the Memorial Union. The Memorial Union is a place for students to relax, eat, and meet. It has a bookstore, coffee shop, and even a bowling alley! A new engineering complex is being built here. The A. Glenn Hill Center, a science and technology building, is also in this area.
• North Area: This section has academic buildings, dorms, and dining halls. Four tall dorm buildings are connected by tunnels, which is great for bad weather.
• West Area: This area is home to the NDSU Wallman Wellness Center. It has a gym, pools, and health services for students.
• Athletic Area: This part of campus has many sports facilities. These include the Scheels Center and the Fargodome, where the Bison football team plays. A new football practice facility opened in 2022.

Research and Technology Park

Northwest of the main campus is the Research and Technology Park. This 55 acres (0.22 km²) area has offices and labs where companies and researchers work on new ideas. They study things like tiny technologies (nanotechnology) and new materials. The Technology Incubator helps new companies get started.

NDSU Downtown

NDSU also has several buildings in downtown Fargo. About four thousand students and staff use these facilities. Renaissance Hall houses the visual arts and architecture departments. Richard H. Barry Hall is home to the College of Business. These downtown locations help students connect with local businesses.

Agricultural Research Centers

NDSU has many research centers across North Dakota. These centers cover over 18,488 acres (74.82 km²) of land. They help farmers and the state's agriculture industry.

Academics and Learning

Sugihara Hall at NDSU, home to Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

South Engineering Building on a spring afternoon.

NDSU is organized into different colleges, like:

• Arts and Sciences
• Engineering
• Health Professions and Human Sciences
• Business
• Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources

Students can even create their own major called University Studies. NDSU offers online classes and uses technology in classrooms to help students learn. The school year is divided into Fall and Spring semesters, with two summer sessions. Most students attend full-time.

Becoming a Student

In 2022, most students who applied to NDSU were accepted. The average GPA for admitted students was 3.47. NDSU does not require ACT or SAT test scores for admission. However, for students who did submit scores, the average SAT score was 1170 and the average ACT score was 24.

University Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked NDSU among the top national universities in 2025. Its engineering programs were also highly ranked.

Libraries

NDSU libraries have about 1 million physical books and other items. They also offer access to many online resources. There is a main library and special libraries for subjects like architecture, business, and health sciences.

Research at NDSU

NDSU is known for its "Very High Research Activity." This means it's a major center for new discoveries. The university is a big part of the Red River Valley Research Corridor, an area known for scientific work.

NDSU ranks among the top 100 research universities for agricultural sciences and social sciences. It is the largest research institution in North Dakota. NDSU spends over $150 million each year on research. Important research areas include tiny technologies (nanotechnology), agriculture, and new materials.

Sports and Athletics

NDSU's sports teams are known as the North Dakota State Bison

NDSU's sports teams are called the North Dakota State Bison, or just "The Bison." Their nickname is "The Thundering Herd." The American Bison is their athletic symbol.

NDSU teams play in NCAA Division I. They joined the Summit League in 2007. The football team joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008. NDSU also joined the Big 12 Conference for wrestling in 2015.

Football Success

The North Dakota State Bison football team has won many championships. They won five NCAA Division I FCS national championships in a row from 2011 to 2015, which was a record! They won again in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. In January 2025, the Bison won their 10th FCS national title, making them the team with the most FCS championships.

The Bison have also beaten bigger teams from the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. In 2016, they upset the #13 Iowa Hawkeyes.

Basketball Achievements

The women's basketball team won five NCAA National Championships in the 1990s. The NCAA even called their four wins in a row (1993–1996) one of the "25 Most Defining Moments in NCAA History."

The men's basketball team has also done well. They made it to the NCAA basketball tournament in 2009, 2015, and 2019. In 2020, the men's team won their conference tournament but couldn't play in the NCAA Tournament because it was canceled.

Other Sports

The Bison dance team won back-to-back National Championships in 2012 and 2013. Amy Olson, a former NDSU golfer, set an NCAA record for most career match victories.

Student Life

Residence Dining Center

Entrance to Bison Court, one of the University Apartments

Campus Media

• Thunder Radio: NDSU has its own radio station, KNDS-LP 96.3 FM.
• The Bison Information Network: This is a student-run TV station that shares news about students and sports.
• The Spectrum: This is NDSU's student newspaper, printed since 1896.
• Bison Illustrated: A magazine about NDSU sports.
• NDSU magazine: A magazine for people who used to go to NDSU and their friends.
• Northern Eclecta: A magazine that shares creative writing and art from NDSU students and local middle and high school students.

Performing Arts

NDSU has several places for performances:

• Festival Concert Hall: A large hall for music concerts.
• Beckwith Recital Hall: A smaller place for recitals and classes.
• Askanase Auditorium: A theater where Theatre NDSU performs plays.
• Walsh Studio Theatre: A flexible space for theater experiments.

The Gold Star Marching Band performs at Bison football games in the Fargodome.

Living on Campus

NDSU has 13 dorms and four apartment buildings on campus. All first-year students are required to live in a dorm.

The Memorial Union

The Memorial Union is a central spot for students. It was built in 1953 and expanded in 2005. It has three floors with the NDSU Bookstore, a coffee shop, a bank, and many offices. There's also a ballroom and meeting rooms. In the basement, you'll find a dining center, food court, bowling alley, and an e-sports gaming lab. A Chick-fil-A opened in the Memorial Union in Fall 2025.

Greek Life

Fraternities and sororities have been part of NDSU since 1904. These groups offer social activities and community for students. As of 2024, about 7% of students are part of a fraternity or sorority.

Famous People Who Went to NDSU

Images for kids

• 

  Entrance to College of Engineering (demolished).

• 

  Richard H. Barry Hall in downtown Fargo.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Dakota del Norte para niños