BISMARCK – Enrollment across the North Dakota University System’s 11 institutions again increased this spring, underscored by the highest spring count since 2016, according to a NDUS news release. The count for the spring 2025 census stands at 44,880, while the 2016 spring count was 44,910.

Additionally, the count for spring 2025 represents a 5% increase from 42,757 in spring 2024. The additional 2,123 students 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 in the release. “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. Minot State University announced its enrollment grew 2.6% to 2,633 students.

Enrollment for Dakota College at Bottineau is 1,204 students. This surpasses the number of students attending last spring by 56 and is just two students fewer than the number recorded for the fall term. Full-time equivalent enrollment at DCB is also up by 10.7% this spring.

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.