The concept of distance education in rural North Dakota began in the early 1900s with correspondence courses at the high school level. Online education remains a popular option among North Dakota college students.
According to the Distance Education State Almanac 2017, more than 44% of students take at least one course online, and more than 24% take all their courses online. The growth in distance education at the college level in this sparsely populated state is on par with the national average. The state government supports online learning through its public schools, including North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota. These schools rank highest in the state for distance learning enrollment and growth in online learners and are among the best online colleges in North Dakota.
Recommended Reading
Overview of Online Colleges in North Dakota
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in North Dakota
North Dakota is home to 20 degree-granting institutions. Their fourteen public institutions include nine four-year colleges and five two-year schools. Two of the state's public schools qualify as research universities (the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University), and four serve as regional state universities (Dickenson, Maryville, Minot, and Valley City). North Dakota also offers five nonprofit schools and one for-profit school, all of which are four-year institutions. Out of nearly 20 million students in the U.S., just over 54,000 attend college in North Dakota.[dataviz-stats public="14" non-profit="6" for-profit="1"]With in-state tuition rates ranging in the U.S. from about $5,000 to $16,000, North Dakota offered an affordable $8,660 in-state tuition rate at its four-year public schools in 2018-2019. Out-of-state students paid tuition and fees of $26,290 on average across the U.S. in 2018-2019. North Dakota's flagship university, the University of North Dakota, posted an in-state tuition rate of $8,695 and an out-of-state rate of $20,759, which is just above the state's average tuition rates for public schools.North Dakota helps college students meet the costs of their education through its state financial aid programs. The state provides more than $11 million in need-based grants and $7.5 million in special purpose programs such as academic scholarships and loan forgiveness.
Higher Education in North Dakota
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in North Dakota
As seen in data from the Distance Education State Almanac 2017, distance education offers educational access to students in this rural state. As a result, 44% of North Dakota students take at least one online course, more than the national average of 30%. This figure represents an increase of almost 11% from 2012-2015, which is about on par with the national average. Undergraduates make up most (86%) of the students taking at least one course. Nearly one-quarter of the state's students take all of their courses online, which is higher than the national average of 14%. Undergraduates make up most (81%) of these students as well. Nearly 62% of North Dakota's online students, more than the national average of 55%, come from inside the state. About three-quarters of North Dakota's students take some classes on campus.[dataviz-nces online="24" undergrad="86" in-state="62"]North Dakota's state schools provide a variety of online programs. North Dakota State University, for example, offers more than 25 online degrees and graduate certificates as well as online courses open to high school students and traditional college students. NDSU's main campus boasts the most students taking online courses and the most growth in online students in the state. The University of North Dakota offers over 80 degree programs and certificates online and provides 24/7 online tutoring. Many North Dakota students start taking online courses well before college through the North Dakota Center for Distance Education established by the state legislature.
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
Students from states that border North Dakota often benefit from tuition breaks available through reciprocity agreements. Students from Minnesota, for example, may qualify for tuition rates slightly above resident rates at North Dakota public schools, provided space is available, and the program is approved under the Minnesota-North Dakota Tuition Reciprocity Program. Check with the online schools in North Dakota that interest you to find out if they offer tuition breaks to students from your state.Undergraduates from South Dakota and all states west of the Dakotas, including Alaska, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam may participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WHU) administered by the Western Interstate Commission For Higher Education. This program enables students to enroll in participating North Dakota public schools and pay a maximum tuition of 1.5 times the in-state rate. Eleven North Dakota public schools participate in WHU, although only three offer online majors. Contact schools that appeal to you to see if they participate in WHU, limit the number of WHU awards, accept transfer students, and offer online programs eligible for WHU tuition.
Best Online Colleges in North Dakota
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in North Dakota. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in North Dakota, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in North Dakota or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in North Dakota
Below, you'll find a second ranking of the top online colleges in ND, sorted by their tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online schools in North Dakota is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in ND with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in the state.
College Graduate Outlook in North Dakota
Job Outlook for College Graduates in North Dakota
North Dakota residents benefit from an economy that features low unemployment (2.6% in August 2018) and a mean annual wage for all occupations of $48,130 (as of May 2017). Recently, mining and logging, as well as the construction industry, experienced the most growth. North Dakota mines produce petroleum, coal, and natural gas. As an agricultural state, North Dakota produces large amounts of wheat, soybeans, corn, and sugar beets. Livestock, including beef cattle, dairy cows, and hogs, also generate revenue for the state's farmers. Regarding manufacturing, having a solid agricultural base means food processing and machinery production rate at the top of the state's key industries. North Dakota is also home to several large medical centers and corporate operations centers.