NDSU recently stabilized enrollment for the first time in several years.
Official enrollment numbers are in. NDSU has a total enrollment of 11,952 to begin the 2024-25 academic year, stabilizing enrollment for the first time in several years.
Areas of increase include new student enrollment, up 148 students, an 18 percent increase in new transfer students, a nine percent increase in new international students and a six percent increase in new graduate students. NDSU has over 800 first-time, first-year students enrolled from North Dakota this fall, a five percent increase from last year.
NDSU also saw a significant increase in Pell-eligible students this year with a 19 percent increase in Pell-eligible first-time, first-year students, a 54 percent increase in Pell-eligible new transfer students, and a 19 percent increase in Pell-eligible returning students. Providing increased access to an affordable, high-quality education is directly in-line with NDSU’s land-grant mission.
NDSU recently launched several new online programs that are in line with workforce demand and a changing student profile that often requires flexibility. A few of these online programs include electrical engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, cybersecurity, information technology, business administration and data science. Enrollment in online programs increased 51 percent with the new program offerings. A significant portion of this increase is in engineering-related online programs.
Retention rates at NDSU have also increased from 77 percent to 78.5 percent for fall-to-fall first-time, first-year students.
“Many of the increases we are seeing this fall can be attributed to a new advising model, more scholarship offerings, and new state-of-the-art facilities such as the Peltier Complex, and the soon-coming Challey School of Music addition and Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex,” said Seinquis Leinen, senior director of strategic enrollment management. “These are all intentional efforts to support our students and ensure they are learning in the best environment.
In addition to expanded online program and course offerings, NDSU continues to emphasize the importance and benefits of hands-on, in-person learning.
NDSU has the largest in-person student population in the North Dakota University System, with 97 percent of students pursuing in-person programs. This significantly contributes to the local and regional economy and bolsters the North Dakota workforce.
NDSU graduates are highly sought by employers, with 94 percent of students either finding a job or continuing their education within six months of graduation.
Enrollment, retention and student success efforts at NDSU are driven by NDSU President David Cook’s NDSU Transform strategic priorities.
“Guided by NDSU Transform, our entire NDSU community is working together to make a positive impact on enrollment, retention and student success,” Cook said. “I’m proud to say these efforts have resulted in many new students choosing NDSU this fall.”
As a student-focused, land grant, research institution, we serve our citizens.