NDSU has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 total students, with almost 300 undergraduate programs and a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1.
There are so many cool things about NDSU, from the decade’s old traditions to a strong Bison connection to the Fargo-Moorhead community. Read below to learn seven fun facts about NDSU.
Before the Bison, NDSU’s nickname was the Aggies
Throughout the early 1900s NDSU was known as the Aggies, a name centered on the rich agricultural history of the university. In 1919, head football coach Stan Borleske wanted the athletic team to be known for being strong and fierce, so the Bison was selected. The name was officially changed in 1922. Starting in the 1960s, a Bison mascot was used at a variety of athletic events and prep rallies. Thundar became the official mascot in 1991.
Iconic Bison statue landmark is the perfect place for a picture
Anyone who has been to campus has seen the Bison statue located on Albrecht Boulevard between Minard Hall and the Library. The statue was installed in 2012 and was donated to NDSU by Jim and Sandra Roers, with contributions from Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson and Student Government. It is dedicated to the memory of Les Pavek, the former vice president of student affairs, and Michael William Barner. The statue, which once stood inside of a bank in Minnesota, is the perfect place to snap a photo on the first day of classes, at commencement and any time you want to show your Bison pride.
Homecoming is a century old tradition
The first Homecoming celebration at NDSU was in 1921. Since then, Homecoming has been held annually except during 1943 and 1944 because of World War II. Throughout Homecoming week, students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members join in the activities celebrating the university, including the home football game and the Homecoming parade.
Close to 300 student organizations
You can find a club that meets your interests on campus, whether that’s intramurals, Greek life, academic-centered organizations or something different, such as TBD Comedy, an improv comedy group. Even if there isn’t a student organization that catches your eye, students can create their own organization by having nine other NDSU students interested, an advisor and a myNDSU page submitted. Learn more about NDSU’s organizations by browsing myNDSU.
NDSU students give back to the community
Students care deeply about the surrounding Fargo-Moorhead community by volunteering at a variety of nonprofit organizations. In the 2023-24 academic year, NDSU students logged over 18,000 hours of service on campus in the F-M community and across the country. Student groups hosted over 50 philanthropic events, which is estimated to have raised over $125,000 for local and national charities. Some of the service-based student organizations include Engineer’s Without Borders, Letter’s of Love and Volunteer Network.
Outstanding athletics
Athletics at NDSU has a history of success with a total of 29 team national championships since 1965 in football, women’s basketball, wrestling, softball, men’s cross country and women’s indoor track and field, plus 61 individual championships. Attending an athletic event is a great way to show your Bison spirit. Get student tickets on the NDSU Athletics website.
Groundbreaking research on campus
As an R1 institution, research is a top priority at NDSU. There are so many opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to enter lab spaces and get hands-on experience creating solutions to some of the most challenging problems in the world.
Schedule a visit to learn more about NDSU’s past, present and future. Apply now to begin your personal NDSU journey.
