North Dakota State University
91%
Acceptance rate
$17,269
Tuition/yr
14,500
Enrollment
About North Dakota State University
Public research university in North Dakota. Strong engineering, agriculture, and business programs.
North Dakota State University (NDSU) is a public research university located in Fargo, North Dakota, founded in 1890. It enrolls approximately 11,952 students (fall 2024) across undergraduate and graduate programs and holds Carnegie Research University classification.
NDSU is particularly strong in agriculture, engineering, pharmacy, and the natural sciences. Its College of Pharmacy is consistently ranked among the top pharmacy programs in the United States, and the College of Engineering offers accredited programs in civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and agricultural engineering. The university operates research centers including the Northern Crops Institute and a Research and Technology Park focused on computing and engineering innovation.
The main campus sits in Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota, on the Minnesota border. Fargo is a mid-sized Midwest city with a low cost of living relative to coastal US cities. NDSU is ranked #232 among US national universities by US News & World Report (2025) and placed in the 201–250 band in QS World Rankings by Subject (Agriculture & Forestry, 2026).
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
ND
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- NDSU's engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy programs are STEM-designated, making graduates eligible for the 24-month OPT STEM extension, giving Nepali students up to three years of US work authorization after graduation without needing immediate H-1B sponsorship.
- International undergraduates with a GPA equivalent of 3.5 or above are automatically considered for a merit scholarship of $12,000 per academic year (applied as $1,500 per semester for up to eight semesters), directly reducing the annual tuition of approximately $17,269.
- At roughly $17,269 per year in tuition (2025-26 flat rate for full-time), NDSU sits in a lower cost tier than most US flagship universities, and Fargo's living costs are well below those of major metro areas, making it a budget-accessible US option for Nepali families.
- The university reported a nine percent increase in new international students for fall 2024, indicating a growing international community; Nepali students admitted to STEM programs can use this momentum alongside NDSU's established ties to agriculture and food-systems industries in the upper Midwest.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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