The High-Need and Emerging Occupations List is what drives the program.  The Workforce Development Council and ND Job Service review and establish the qualifying high-need and emerging occupations annually.

SCHOLARSHIP LIST

• Qualifying programs for the scholarship may be certificate programs, associate’s programs, or bachelor’s programs in the final two years of the bachelor student’s degree.
• Qualifying programs must directly relate to one of the high-need occupations and must be a qualifying North Dakota institution.
• Students agree to:
  • Complete the program of study they receive funds for.
  • Live within ND for 3 years following program completion.
  • Work in an in-demand occupation within ND for 3 years following program completion.
  • Repay all scholarship dollars received, which includes the private-sector matched funds, if these terms are not met.
• You can view the scholarship list, the high-need occupations, and qualifying programs here:  SCHOLARSHIP High Need and Emerging Occupations List

LOAN REPAYMENT LIST

• Employees must be newly hired to work in ND in one of the high-need occupations on the list.
• Qualifying applicants must have completed a program of study and hold a qualifying student loan balance.  The degree may have been earned from any institution, within or outside of North Dakota.
• Applicants must live within ND and work within ND in a high-need occupation to qualify.
• You can view the high-need occupations for loan repayment here: LOAN REPAYMENT High-Need and Emerging Occupations List

• Students must be admitted into a qualifying certificate or degree program in the state.
  • Qualifying programs may be certificate, associate’s level, or bachelor’s level in the final 2 years of the bachelor student’s degree.
  • Eligibility is limited to 4 semesters or 6 quarters.
  • Qualifying programs must relate to a high-need occupation.

• The institution will generally initiate the scholarship application process with the student and then, the NDUS will confirm final eligibility based on program guidelines.
  • A 2.50 minimum GPA is required for payment.
  • Full-time enrollment, according to the degree plan, is required for payment.
  • The scholarship is contingent upon the required matching funds being confirmed for the student.
  • Matching funds from a private-sector donor, or other qualifying public funds, must be received by the NDUS prior to payment being issued.  The NDUS will match the donors funds up to $8,500.
  • Payments may not exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies up to a lifetime maximum of $17,000.

• Scholarship recipients have the obligation to reside in ND, and to work in a high-need occupation in ND for at least 3 years following program completion.  There is a 6-month window to meet the requirements following program completion.
  • Students accepted into the program will be required to sign a Scholarship Award Agreement, which will be legally binding.  Failure to meet the terms of the Scholarship Award Agreement will result in scholarship funds being repaid by the student.
  • Repayment of the funds received could be triggered by:
    • Withdrawing from the program prior to completion, either voluntarily or involuntarily;
    • Failing to live in ND following program completion (3 years minimum);
    • Failing to work in a high-need occupation within ND (3 years minimum) following program completion.
  • Students who must repay scholarship dollars will repay BOTH the state funds and the private-sector funds.
  • Students should keep in mind that if signing other 3rd party agreements with employers, there may be additional obligations to meet with that organization.  No repaid scholarship dollars are returned to the private-sector matching funds donor.

• Graduates may apply for the ND Career Builders Loan Repayment by completing the application with their employer.
  • The program of study does not have to be completed from a ND college.
• Applicants newly hired into their high-need occupation within ND will be considered.  “Newly hired” means an employee who was hired within 24 months of the application being received by the NDUS.
• Upon application and prior to each payment, applicants will be required to provide documentation to the NDUS.
• Matching funds from a private-sector donor, or other qualifying public funds, must be received by the NDUS prior to payment being issued.  The NDUS will match the donors funds $1 for $1, up to $8,500.  Maximum eligibility under ND Career Builders is $17,000.
• Payments may not exceed $5,667 per year, or one-third of the applicant’s outstanding student loan principal balance at the time of application, whichever is less.  Payments are made over 3 years.
• Eligible loans include federal student loans or private alternative student loans.  Other private loan/debt that is not a “student loan”, such as  home equity, credit card debt, or other consolidated debt that is no longer a “student loan”, will not be considered.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: 

Students should first review the High-Need and Emerging Occupations List to determine if the program and institution are listed.  If you have questions regarding the application process or the scholarship requirements, you can reach out to the NDUS at ndfinaid@ndus.edu or to your campus contact.  Your campus contact can tell you if your program of study qualifies and if there are matching funds available to support your scholarship.

• • • To apply to the scholarship, log into the ND SAMS Portal and select the ND Career Builders Scholarship application.

LOAN REPAYMENT APPLICATION:

• • • To apply for loan repayment, log into the ND SAMS Portal and select the ND Career Builders Loan Repayment application.

• • • Your employer and donor will be contacted to provide supporting documentation and the matching funds.

Donation forms are required on all awards.  

Click here to download the ND Career Builders Donation Form.

WHY ARE MATCHING DONOR DOLLARS NEEDED?  The ND Career Builders Program is a partnership between business and the state.  The ND University System (NDUS) cannot issue payment without private-sector or other qualifying public funds being received by the NDUS.  The impact of this program is great as scholarship or loan repayment dollars issued by businesses are doubled using the ND Career Builder program.  It is a win for business, students and employees!  Private sector funds may be any source of funding from a business, an association, a local entity, such as a city or a job development authority, or even qualifying funds from institutions.  Essentially, any funds identified to assist in recruiting and retaining talent in ND can make up the match, except for other federal or state financial aid programs, or Challenge Grant funding.

• • • Your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state up to $8,500 total per recipient.
    • Donated dollars become part of the ND Career Builders Program and a donor cannot request funds to be returned once receipted by the NDUS.
    • All matching funds must flow through the NDUS for the state match to be issued.  Donors can send their donation form and funds directly to the ND University System (NDUS) or they may be sent to the college that the student will be attending.   If sent to the college, the funds will be forwarded to our office on the donor’s behalf.

If you have any questions, please contact the NDUS at ndfinaid@ndus.edu or at 701-328-2906.

This program changes lives, builds communities, and makes a significant impact in ND!

Businesses and students across the state share their experiences with the program.

View their full Q&A

• Brad Barth, Forward Devils Lake Corps.
• Adam Davis, Bismarck State College
  
• Rachel Kmecik, True North Equipment
• Alyssa Stein, Sanford Medical Center
• Mike Sanden, Butler Machinery Company
• Sara Frith, General Equipment & Supplies, Inc.
• Stacie Sevigny, Walsh County Job Development Authority

The following resources were developed for businesses and institutions to use in the promotion of the ND Career Builders scholarship and loan repayment.  Please feel free to download and share the documents and information provided.  If you are interested in promoting ND Career Builders directly, NDUS Procedure 508.3 requires inclusion of the program name, logo, tag line and website.  Additionally, the full unedited high-need and emerging occupations list must be included in its full form, or as a link.  If you have more questions please contact the NDUS at 701-328-2906 or at ndfinaid@ndus.edu.

Marketing Requirements – NDUS Procedure 508.3

1. 1. 1. In all promotions of the ND Career Builders Scholarship & Loan Repayment, the official logo must be used (see toolkit below).
      2. Include the website:  https://ndus.edu/career-builders/
      3. In all promotions of the ND Career Builders Scholarship & Loan Repayment the full and unedited high-need and emerging occupations list must be included, or at a minimum, the URL link to the full list located on the website must be included.  High-Need and Emerging Occupations List

Resources for use in marketing ND Career Builders

• ND Career Builders 2023 Campaign
  • Business Direct Mail
  • Business Flyer
  • Business Digital Ads
  • Business Print Ad
  • Testimonials
  • Institution Digital Ads
  • Institution Posters
  • Institution Flyers
  • High School Counselor/Student Digital Ads
  • High School Counselor/Student Flyer
• Banner Ads & Logo
  • ND Career Builders Logo
  • Medical Banner Ad
  • Skilled Occupations Banner Ad
  • Information Technology Banner Ad

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• Tools to Meet Workforce Challenges
• ND Career Builders Helping Meet the States Workforce Needs
• New Training Requirements Coming for Entry Level CDL Drivers
• Devils Lake Student Takes Advantage of State and Local Programs for School and Work
• Career Fair Offers Students Insider Information on Career Opportunities in Oil and Gas
• 1 Million Cups Bismarck/Mandan – Livestream ND Career Builders
• North Dakota Career Builders Panel Discussion in Grand Forks
• ND Career Builders Receives $25,000 Grant From Microsoft To Help Support Computer Science Programs
• Asking the Experts: ND’s Career Workforce Scholarship & Loan Repayment Program
• A Conversation with Governor Doug Burgum
• 5 Best Scholarships to Pay Off Student Loans
• Financial Aid 101: North Dakota Student Loan and Scholarships
• NDSCS Student Awarded First ND Career Builders Scholarship
• ND Career Builders Program Opens Application Process for Scholarships and Student Loan Repayment