Nursing schools in North Dakota: programs, costs, and how to get in

North Dakota is one of the most rural states in the country — only six of its 53 counties have an adequate number of healthcare workers, and 12 of its 39 rural hospitals face potential closure pressures, according to recent workforce data. The state’s healthcare workforce is anchored by Sanford Health and Essentia Health, both large regional systems with significant North Dakota footprints, as well as the VA medical center in Fargo and critical access hospitals scattered across the plains. For nursing students, the state’s workforce gap translates into a practical reality: graduates from North Dakota programs move directly into a market with strong demand, particularly for those willing to work outside the Fargo–Bismarck corridor.

North Dakota is a long-standing member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. The state joined the original NLC on January 1, 2004, and transitioned to the enhanced eNLC framework on January 19, 2018. North Dakota is also one of a small number of states that participate in the APRN Compact, which provides multistate practice authority for advanced practice nurses. A North Dakota primary RN license carries multistate authority across all 40+ NLC states. Neighboring compact members include Minnesota (compact legislation enacted, implementation pending as of mid-2026), South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Iowa — important for travel nurses working the upper Midwest region.

Types of nursing programs in North Dakota

North Dakota’s nursing education landscape is anchored by two major universities and a network of community and tribal colleges serving rural communities across the state.

LPN programs (12 months) LPN programs are available at several community colleges and vocational schools. The LPN credential allows entry-level nursing work under RN supervision, and LPN-to-RN bridge pathways exist at North Dakota institutions. Tuition typically runs $8,000–$16,000.

ADN programs (2 years) Associate Degree in Nursing programs are offered at Lake Region State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Bismarck State College, and other community colleges throughout the state. These programs are well-suited to students in rural areas who want to enter the workforce quickly at lower cost. In-state community college tuition typically runs $4,000–$6,500 per year.

BSN programs (4 years) The University of North Dakota (UND) College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines in Grand Forks is the state’s flagship nursing program, ranked #1 in the state by multiple education rankings. North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo and the University of Mary in Bismarck also offer accredited BSN programs. In-state tuition at public universities runs approximately $7,000–$11,000 per year.

Accelerated BSN (12–16 months) UND and University of Mary both offer accelerated or bridge options for career changers with prior bachelor’s degrees. These are concentrated in Grand Forks and Bismarck respectively.

RN-to-BSN and graduate programs UND’s College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program accessible to working nurses statewide. UND also offers MSN and DNP programs, including nurse practitioner tracks. The University of Mary in Bismarck has RN-to-BSN and graduate options with a Catholic health system emphasis.

Admission requirements

North Dakota nursing programs follow a standard prerequisite model, with UND and NDSU setting the most competitive benchmarks in the state.

Standard prerequisites:

GPA benchmarks: UND requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for the BSN program, with a February 1 application deadline for fall admission. NDSU’s pre-nursing program requires a 3.2 GPA for progression, with direct-entry requiring a 3.4 high school GPA and a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT. Community college ADN programs typically require a 2.75 GPA across prerequisite courses. Competitive cohorts at UND and NDSU typically carry GPAs above 3.3.

Entrance exams: ADN programs at community colleges generally require the ATI TEAS. UND’s BSN uses its own admission review; NDSU’s pre-nursing program uses ACT/SAT components. See nursing school prerequisites for more on what programs expect.

Background checks and drug screening: All North Dakota nursing programs require a criminal background check and drug screening prior to clinical placement. See nursing school criminal background check for details.

Healthcare experience: Not required for most programs, but direct patient care experience consistently strengthens applications at competitive programs. CNA certification is a practical way to gain this experience while completing prerequisites.

For students concerned about GPA, see nursing school GPA requirements and low GPA nursing schools for alternative pathways.

Costs and financial aid

North Dakota’s public university system is reasonably affordable for in-state students, and community college ADN programs represent strong cost-per-outcome value given the state’s job market.

Typical tuition ranges:

• Community college ADN (in-state): $4,000–$6,500 per year
• University BSN at UND or NDSU (in-state): $7,000–$11,000 per year
• University of Mary (private): approximately $20,000–$26,000 per year

See nursing school cost for a complete breakdown of program costs across degree types.

State-specific financial aid:

• North Dakota Student Loans: The Bank of North Dakota offers the Dakota Education Alternative Loan (DEAL) with competitive rates for students attending North Dakota institutions.
• Nursing workforce incentives: North Dakota has periodically funded loan repayment programs for nurses who commit to practice in rural shortage areas. Check with the North Dakota Center for Rural Health and the North Dakota Board of Nursing for current program availability.
• NHSC Loan Repayment: Federal HRSA loan repayment is available at qualifying Health Professional Shortage Area sites — numerous rural North Dakota facilities qualify.
• Indian Health Service: North Dakota has a tribal health service presence (Standing Rock, Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain, Fort Berthold); IHS offers scholarship and loan repayment programs for nurses serving these communities.

Students should also complete the FAFSA early — see nursing school FAFSA guide for guidance.

NCLEX pass rates

The North Dakota Board of Nursing monitors first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rates for all approved programs. State-level data is also available through the NCSBN website.

An 85%+ first-attempt pass rate is the baseline benchmark for a well-performing program. University of Mary in Bismarck has posted notably strong NCLEX performance, with some cohorts reaching 98–100% first-attempt rates. Dakota College at Bottineau’s ADN program has also posted strong results.

North Dakota’s overall state pass rate has historically tracked at or above the national average of approximately 85–87%. When comparing programs, look at pass rate trends over three or more years rather than a single year’s result.

For a framework for reading NCLEX data, see NCLEX pass rates by state.

Career outlook and salaries

According to BLS OEWS 2024 data, the mean annual wage for registered nurses in North Dakota is approximately $82,750 — about 13% below the national mean, but offset by a cost of living that is roughly 8% below the national average. Entry-level RN positions in long-term care or rural outpatient settings typically start around $60,000–$65,000; experienced specialty nurses in Fargo or Bismarck earn $95,000–$110,000.

North Dakota is projected to meet only 84% of its nursing demand, one of the larger workforce gaps nationally. The shortage is most acute in rural areas, where the combination of geographic isolation, smaller facilities, and compensation pressures creates persistent vacancy rates.

Major employers:

• Sanford Health — the largest health system in both North and South Dakota, with Fargo as a major hub; has publicly described a historic workforce shortage and is actively recruiting at all levels
• Essentia Health — operates in Fargo and across the northern part of the state
• CHI St. Alexius Health – Bismarck’s major health system, serving the south-central part of the state
• VA Medical Center, Fargo — federal pay scale with benefits, serving veterans across the Dakotas
• Critical Access Hospitals — dozens of rural facilities across the state’s plains counties, often with loan repayment and signing bonuses

RN employment growth nationally is projected at approximately 6% through 2032. North Dakota’s trajectory, given its 84% coverage rate and rural hospital pressures, is significantly more urgent.

How to choose a nursing school in North Dakota

North Dakota’s nursing school market is lean but well-structured. UND and NDSU provide strong university BSN pathways in the state’s two largest cities; community colleges distribute the ADN pathway to students in rural areas who would otherwise face impractical commutes.

Check ACEN or CCNE accreditation. All legitimate programs carry accreditation from ACEN or CCNE. See nursing school accreditation for what accreditation means and why it matters.

NCLEX pass rates from NCSBN: Pull first-attempt pass rate data from NCSBN for any program you are considering. Programs below 80% over multiple years warrant scrutiny. University of Mary and UND both have strong track records.

Rural vs. urban clinical training: North Dakota’s rural shortage is real, and programs that place students in rural clinical settings tend to produce graduates who are more comfortable with autonomous, lower-resource nursing practice. If you want to work in a rural community long-term, a program with rural clinical rotations is a significant advantage.

ADN vs. BSN decision: The ADN-to-employment route is fast in North Dakota — the labor market absorbs ADN graduates readily, particularly in rural and long-term care settings. However, Sanford Health and larger system employers in Fargo and Bismarck increasingly prefer BSN-prepared candidates for hospital roles. If you want to work at a major system, the direct BSN or RN-to-BSN path is worth the additional investment. See ADN degree and BSN degree for a full comparison.

Compact mobility: North Dakota’s long-standing compact membership means your primary license here carries immediate multistate utility. For travel nurses working the Midwest and mountain states, a North Dakota compact license covers a broad footprint.

For a full pre-application checklist, see nursing school application checklist and nursing school acceptance rates.