11 Feb NDUS enrollment momentum continues into spring semester
BISMARCK, N.D. – Enrollment across the North Dakota University System’s 11 institutions again increased this spring, underscored by the highest spring headcount since 2016. The headcount for the spring 2025 census stands at 44,880, while the 2016 spring headcount was 44,910.
Additionally, the headcount for spring 2025 represents a 5% increase from 42,757 in spring 2024. The additional 2,123 in headcount is further depicted by a 72% growth in traditional undergraduates (excluding high school students), 26% high school students and 1% graduate students.
“This is a remarkable achievement for our campus presidents, faculty, staff and leadership within the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “We are continually innovating and finding adaptive ways to entice students to pursue higher education in North Dakota. Our continued success with enrollment shows we are offering programs students want, programs they have invested in to ensure they flourish in their future careers.”
The full-time equivalency, or FTE, count systemwide also increased by 4.71% compared to spring 2024, and total credit hour production increased by 4.28% with 484,388 hours recorded for 2025, up from 462,094 in 2024.
Nearly all of the NDUS’s 11 institutions reported enrollment gains for the spring 2025 semester.
The spring 2025 enrollment growth mirrors census data recorded in fall 2024 throughout the NDUS. A systemwide headcount was recorded at 45,806 students, the highest number since fall 2018, and a 3.6% increase from fall 2023. Additionally, FTE enrollment increased for the third straight year at 34,781students, the highest since 2020.
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