 | |
| Motto | Lux et Lex (Latin) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "Light and Law" |
| Type | Publicresearch university |
| Established | 1883; 143 years ago (1883) |
Parent institution | North Dakota University System |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $510.7 million (2025)[1] |
| President | Andrew Armacost |
| Provost | Eric Link |
| Students | 15,844 (fall 2025)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 11,837 (fall 2025) |
| Postgraduates | 4,007 (fall 2025) |
| Location | , United States |
| Campus | Small city, 521 acres (2.11 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Dakota Student |
| Colors | UND Green and White[3][4][5][6] |
| Nickname | Fighting Hawks |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascot | The Fighting Hawk |
| Website | www |
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TheUniversity of North Dakota (UND) is apublicresearch university inGrand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It was established by theDakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state ofNorth Dakota.
The university has the only schools of law and medicine in the state of North Dakota. TheJohn D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences was the first in the country to offer a degree in unmanned aircraft systems operation.[7] Several national research institutions are on the university's campus including theEnergy and Environmental Research Center, theSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences, and theUSDA Human Nutrition Research Center.[8][9] It isclassified among "R1: Doctoral universities – very high research activity".[10]
UND was founded in 1883, six years before North Dakota became a state.[11] UND was founded with a liberal arts foundation and expanded to include scientific research. Grand Forks nativeGeorge H. Walsh submitted the bill to the Territorial Legislature ofDakota Territory that called for the new state of North Dakota's university to be in Grand Forks.[11] The first classes were held on September 8, 1884. The first building at UND, Old Main, housed all classrooms, offices, dorm rooms, and a library.[12] In the 1880s, UND consisted of only a few acres of property, surrounded by farms and fields, nearly two miles west of the city of Grand Forks. Students living off campus had to take a train or a horse and carriage bus, dubbed the "Black Maria", from downtown to the campus.[12][13]
As the university grew, more buildings were constructed on campus and a trolley system was built to connect the growing university todowntown Grand Forks. However, there were several major interruptions in the life of the university. In 1918, UND was the country's hardest-hit single institution by the flu epidemic that killed 1,400 people in North Dakota alone.[14] Later that year, classes were suspended so the campus could become an army base for soldiers during World War I.[14] During theGreat Depression, UND provided free housing to students willing to do manual labor on campus.[15] "Camp Depression," as it was called, consisted of railroadcabooses that each housed eight male students.[15] "Camp Depression" students did not get regular meals from the cafeteria and had to be satisfied with free leftovers. However, Grand Forks citizens often opened their homes and kitchen tables to many of these young men.[15]
After World War II, enrollment quickly grew to more than 3,000.[16] A large amount of housing and several academic buildings had to be built on campus.[16] The 1950s saw the rise of theFighting Sioux hockey tradition.[17] In the 1960s and 1970s, many student protests occurred at UND.[18] The largest was in May 1970 when over 1,500 students protested theKent State shootings.[18] In 1975, enrollment swelled to a record 8,500. The 1970s also saw the establishment of theJohn D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at UND. During the 1980s and 1990s the university continued to grow.[19] However, the devastating1997 Red River flood inundated numerous buildings on campus and forced the cancellation of the remainder of the school year.[20]
The start of the 21st century was marked by the opening of two major venues forUND athletics.[21] TheRalph Engelstad Arena, home of men's and women's hockey, and theAlerus Center, home of UND football, both opened in 2001. TheBetty Engelstad Sioux Center opened in August 2004, and serves as home to UND volleyball and men's and women's basketball.[22]
Millions of dollars' worth of construction and renovation projects have dotted the campus landscape. As part of a plan to improve student facilities on campus, UND constructed a Wellness Center, a parking garage, new Memorial Union, renovated library, renovated Gershman Center for graduate students, and an apartment-style housing complex. Other construction projects around campus have included a new LEED Platinum-certified alumni center, a renovated and expanded College of Education and Human Development, and an expandedEnergy and Environmental Research Center. In 2016, a $124-million Medicine and Health Services building was built on the north end of campus.[23]
In 2015, UND's economic impact on the state and region was estimated to be more than $1.4 billion a year according to the NDUS Systemwide Economic Study by the School of Economics at North Dakota State University.[24][25] It was the fourth-largest employer in the state of North Dakota, after theAir Force.[26]
In August 2021, UND became the first participant in theUnited States Space Force's University Partnership program.[27]
The University of North Dakota's main campus sits in the middle ofGrand Forks on University Avenue. The campus is made up of 240 buildings (6.4 million square feet) on 521 acres (2.11 km2).[28][8] The campus stretches roughly one and half miles from east to west and is divided by the meandering English Coulee. The western edge is bordered byInterstate 29, the eastern edge is bordered with University Park, the Grand Forks railyards sit on the south side, and the north side is marked byU.S. Highway 2 which is called Gateway Drive in Grand Forks.
At the heart of campus sits theChester Fritz Library, the largest library in North Dakota.[29] There are also northern and western campuses. The western part of the UND campus has modern styles of architecture.[29] The Gorecki Alumni Center on campus is North Dakota's firstLEED Platinum building. A combination of geothermal and solar panels are used to power the building.[30]
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Forbes[31] | 234 |
| U.S. News & World Report[32] | 244 |
| Washington Monthly[33] | 207 |
| WSJ/College Pulse[34] | 401–500 |
| Global | |
| U.S. News & World Report[35] | 1369 |
UND offers more than 225 fields of study, including 108 undergraduate majors, 69 minors, 81 master's programs, 37 doctoral programs, and two professional programs (medicine andlaw).[36] UND also has an interdisciplinary program that allows students to obtain a degree in virtually any course of study.[37] A collection of online classes and degree programs are offered for students around the nation and world.[38] This online program has been highly ranked by US News and other leading online college rankings.[39][40][41] On campus, academic classrooms range from smaller rooms capable of seating around 20 students to large lecture bowls capable of seating hundreds at a time. All areas have wireless access for laptops and technologically equipped classrooms enable professors to offer interactive lectures.Sanford Health,Altru Health System andEssentia Health partnered with the University of North Dakota to further medical education and simulations in a fleet of 4 trucks forNorth Dakota, allowing continued medical education all across the state.
The university has ten academic divisions:
UND has three major libraries which, together, form the largest system of research libraries in the state of North Dakota.[42] TheChester Fritz Library is the largest library in the state.[43] It houses 1.6 million volumes, provides access to approximately 28,000 electronic journal subscriptions, and owns over 20,000 electronic books.[44] It also serves as a U.S. patent and trademark depository and a government document depository.[42] UND's special collections department is known for its genealogical resources, including NorwegianBygdeboker, or Norwegian farm and town records.[45] Branches of the Chester Fritz Library include the Energy and Environmental Research Library, the F.D. Holland Geology Library, and the Gordon Erickson Music Library.[42] TheSchool of Law operates the Thormodsgard Law Library[46] and theSchool of Medicine operates the Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences.[47]
UND isclassified among "R1: Doctoral universities – very high research activity".[10] This level of research activity is shown in UND's research statistics which, in fiscal year 2006, included program awards that reached $94.3 million, sponsored program expenditures that reached $81.2 million, and an overall research portfolio that included $315 million in total ongoing and committed accounts.[48] Research activity at UND focuses on health sciences, nutrition, energy and environmental protection, aerospace, and engineering.[8] As a major component of theRed River Valley Research Corridor, UND operates many research units including theEnergy and Environmental Research Center, theSchool of Medicine, the Institute for Energy Studies, the Center for Rural Health, the Center for Innovation, the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium, the Bureau of Governmental Affairs, the Bureau of Educational Services and Applied Research, and the Social Science Research Institute.[49] TheEnergy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), on the eastern fringes of the UND campus, has been recognized as a leader in researching cleaner, more efficient forms of energy.[50] The EERC operates a number of research units at UND including theNational Center for Hydrogen Technology.
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79% | ||
| Hispanic | 6% | ||
| Two or more races | 5% | ||
| International student | 4% | ||
| Black | 3% | ||
| Asian | 2% | ||
| Native American/Alaska Native | 1% | ||
| Unknown | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 18% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 82% | ||
| 1890 | 24 |
| 1900 | 124 |
| 1910 | 490 |
| 1920 | 1,124 |
| 1930 | 1,765 |
| 1940 | 1,757 |
| 1950 | 2,653 |
| 1960 | 4,491 |
| 1970 | 8,129 |
| 1980 | 10,217 |
| 1990 | 11,885 |
| 2000 | 11,031 |
| 2010 | 14,194 |
| 2020 | 13,615[55] |
Over 14,000 students[56] attend classes on the UND campus each year.[53] About 34 percent of the student body is fromNorth Dakota and the other 56 percent is made up of students from other states and 99 nations.[57] Students can live on or off campus. On campus, there are 14 residence halls[58] and 700 student apartment units;[59] there is also as 13fraternities[60] and sevensororities.[61] There are over 275 student organizations at UND[62] as well as anintramural sports program.
The fraternity and sorority community has a rich history at the University of North Dakota. There are approximately 20 Greek houses on campus.
TheNorth Dakota Museum of Art, the official art museum of the state of North Dakota, is in the heart of campus and offers exhibits throughout the year.[63] The Burtness Theater and theChester Fritz Auditorium regularly feature theater and concert events.[64][65] TheRalph Engelstad Arena also features non-athletic events including concerts. The nearby city-ownedAlerus Center hosts several concerts each year as well as other events. Each year, UND hosts theUniversity of North Dakota Writers Conference with prominent American and foreign writers.[66][67]
TheDakota Student is UND's student newspaper.
North Dakota Quarterly, aliterary journal, is edited at UND.[68]
The North Dakota Law Review, published by theSchool of Law since 1924, serves as the journal of the State Bar Association of North Dakota.[69]
TheAlumni Review is published by the UND Alumni Association and Foundation.[70]
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North Dakota's 17 athletic teams compete in theNCAA'sDivision I. Teams compete in theSummit League, except men's hockey, which is in theNational Collegiate Hockey Conference, and the football team, which is in theMissouri Valley Football Conference (within theFCS subdivision).[71] The men'sice hockey team has won eight national championships, has been runner-up five times and play in theRalph Engelstad Arena.
Thefootball team won theDivision II national championship in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2003, and play at theAlerus Center. Thebasketball andvolleyball teams play in theBetty Engelstad Sioux Center. The women's basketball team has won three national championships in 1997, 1998, and 1999 and was runner-up in 2001.
The colors of UND athletics are green and white, which were adopted in the 1920s. The university's official school colors are green and pink, representative of North Dakota's state flower, theWild Prairie Rose; however, this combination is rarely employed outside of official or ceremonial applications.[5] From 1904 until 1930, UND's athletic teams bore the name of theFlickertails. Afterward they were the Fighting Sioux, but were without a nickname and mascot from 2012 to 2015, in compliance with the NCAA's policy against the use of Native American nicknames.[72][73] On November 18, 2015, it was announced the new nickname would be "Fighting Hawks", effective immediately.[74][75] The former "Fighting Sioux" nickname controversy was later documented in the filmFighting Over Sioux.[76]
A notable UND athletic alumnus isNational Basketball Association (NBA) coach and former playerPhil Jackson, widely considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.[77][78] In addition, many UND alumni have played in theNational Hockey League (NHL), including:Minnesota Wild wingZach Parise,New Jersey Devils centerTravis Zajac,Los Angeles Kings defensemenMatt Greene andMike Commodore,Chicago Blackhawks forward and captainJonathan Toews,Vancouver Canucks wingBrock Boeser, former NHL goalieEd Belfour, andWashington Capitals forwardT. J. Oshie.
The school's primary fight song is "Stand Up and Cheer". Two other fight songs are "UND" andIt's for You, North Dakota U (orNorth Dakota U), composed by Franz Rickaby in 1921.[79][80]
Alumni of the University of North Dakota have become notable in a variety of different fields including politics and government, business, science, literature, arts and entertainment, and athletics.[81] NineGovernors of North Dakota were educated at UND, includingFred G. Aandahl,[82]Kelly Armstrong,Louis B. Hanna,[83]Lynn Frazier,[84]William Langer,[85]John Moses,[86]Ragnvald A. Nestos,[87]Allen I. Olson,[88] andEd Schafer, who was also theUS Secretary of Agriculture from 2008 to 2009.[89] Former Deputy National Security Advisor at theWhite House,Mark Pfeifle is a 1997 graduate in the School of Communications.[90] Many U.S. Senators and Representatives of North Dakota were also graduates of UND, including former SenatorByron Dorgan[91] and former RepresentativeEarl Pomeroy.[92] FormerHouse Majority LeaderDick Armey is a UND graduate.[93]Ronald Davies, a UND graduate and former federal judge, became a part of history when he ordered the integration ofLittle Rock Central High School during theCivil Rights Movement.[94]Leigh Gerdine who was president ofWebster University and was awarded theNational Medal of Arts in 1989. UND alumni who went on to notable careers in the business world include chairman ofTNSE & president of theWinnipeg Jets hockey clubMark Chipman,[95] current president and former CEO ofCargillGregory R. Page,[96] current president and CEO of theBuffalo Wild Wings restaurant chainSally J. Smith,[97] current CEO ofForum CommunicationsWilliam C. Marcil,[98] formerLas Vegas casino owner and UND philanthropistRalph Engelstad,[99] and former CEO of AmericanSkandia and founder of WealthVest MarketingWade Dokken.[100] FormerCanadian Football League player and founder ofGolden Star Resources,Dave Fennell. Founder and chairman ofNygård International,Peter Nygård.
In the realm of science, notable UND alumni include important contributor toinformation theoryHarry Nyquist,[101] pioneer aviatorCarl Ben Eielson,[102] Arctic explorerVilhjalmur Stefansson,[103] engineer and NASA astronautKaren L. Nyberg,[104] and leading NASA managerJohn H. Disher.Pearl I. Young, a UND graduate in 1919, became the first female technical employee atNASA (thenNACA) in 1922, her contributions to the agency resulted in a theater atNASA Langley in 1995.
Alumni who have become notable through literature include thePulitzer Prize-winning playwright and authorMaxwell Anderson,[105]Rhodes scholar and poetThomas McGrath,[106] essayist and journalistChuck Klosterman,[107] and novelistJon Hassler.[108] UND graduates have become editors of major magazines:Carroll Eugene Simcox ofThe Living Church, formerEbony editorEra Bell Thompson[109] and formerLIFE editorEdward K. Thompson.[110] Alumni who have become notable in arts and entertainment include actorSam Anderson[111] andAmerica's Next Top Model winnerNicole Linkletter.[112]
Former UND students who have gone on to notable careers in athletics include formerNBA player and coach and former president of theNew York Knicks,Phil Jackson,[113] 1980 Winter Olympics "Miracle on Ice" hockey playerDave Christian,[114]NHL playersEd Belfour andZach Parise, and professional football playersJim Kleinsasser andDave Osborn. As of the 2018–19 season, more than 20 former UND players are in the NHL and more than 100 former players have played in the NHL.[115]
47°55′20″N97°04′24″W / 47.9222°N 97.0734°W /47.9222; -97.0734
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
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