University of North Dakota

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Known as North Dakota or UND, the University of North Dakota is a public research institution. The school, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was founded in 1883 — six years before the state itself was established, and it is the oldest university in North Dakota. The Carnegie Foundation classifies UND as having high research activity, and it is considered one of the top research and academic institutions in the northern Midwest. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UND among its top 100 public universities in the U.S. The school offers nationally competitive programs in health sciences, aerospace, engineering research, energy and environmental protection, nutrition and political science.

University of North Dakota Accreditation Details

The University of North Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association. In addition, a significant number of other accrediting agencies have approved components of the University of North Dakota at the school or college level, including several of its online degrees.

University of North Dakota Application Requirements

Undergraduates seeking an online degree from the University of North Dakota must first complete the UND Undergraduate Admissions Application and pay a nonrefundable $35 application fee. Students must request that their official high school transcripts be sent directly to the school, and students who have already completed college-level credits must submit these transcripts directly from the college to the University of North Dakota. In addition, students must request that their official SAT and/or ACT scores be sent directly to UND. Depending on the major, some programs may have additional application requirements beyond UND's general admission standards.

Tuition and Financial Aid

North Dakota undergraduate residents can expect to pay $352 per credit hour or $4,223 for full-time enrollment, which includes 12 credits. Nonresidents seeking an undergraduate degree can expect to pay $835 per credit hour or $10,023 for full-time enrollment. With the exception of distance engineering and space studies, online courses are assessed resident tuition, regardless of the state in which the student resides. Online course tuition is not capped at 12 credits like on-campus tuition. Online graduate tuition rates vary depending on the degree pursued, but students can expect to pay around $320 per credit or $3,844 for full-time enrollment.

UND offers a number of financial aid options for its students, including employment, loans, grants and scholarships. Online and distance learning students qualify for most institutional, state and federal aid programs with the exception of UND tuition waiver programs.

Online Degrees Available

The University of North Dakota offers a number of online and distance degrees and certificates spanning several fields and industries. At the bachelor's level, students can choose from undergraduate degrees in social work, social science, psychology, nursing, medical laboratory science, general studies, communication and engineering. Master's degrees include programs in forensic psychology, electrical engineering, education, counseling, business administration, aviation, applied economics, space studies, social work, public health, public administration, occupational therapy, nutrition and nursing.

UND offers an online bachelor's degree in social work, and students can complete this 39-credit-hour program in as little as two years. The curriculum is provided online with a local field placement, and students are required to make one on-campus visit. This program is ranked in the top 10 Best Online BSSW degree programs and is deal for students with an associate's degree, undergraduate college credits or a bachelor's degree in a different field. Students may be eligible to sit for licensure in many states, and the degree opens doors for a career in a number of settings, including aging, schools, mental health, health, child welfare and more.

The online RN to BSN program requires a minimum of 30 credits from the University of North Dakota and offers students both part- and full-time options. The program includes a local clinical component, recorded lectures and live web-based classes, and the degree is ranked in the top 25 Best Online Nursing Degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is designed for current Registered Nurses (RNs) who wish to advance their careers by expanding on prior experience, knowledge and education. Students will receive a balanced, well-rounded general education as well as preparation in all basic nursing practice areas.

Students may choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in general studies, which consists of 125 credits and takes approximately four years to complete. Students interact in a virtual classroom, and the degree focuses on students' intellectual growth through study in the liberal arts, including fine arts, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and mathematics. Students will develop familiarity with other cultures, learn to communicate more effectively, demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills and experience a broad education over a wide range of subject areas.

Top Management Degrees ranks UND's online MBA program as number one on its list for "Most Affordable Online MBA Degree Programs." This 43-credit-hour program takes approximately two years to complete and is held fully online. Students take semester-based courses, including live web classes held one evening every week. The program prepares students to meet management challenges in the "real world" at the executive level, emphasizing operating, organizing, planning and controlling a business enterprise. Students may also choose an online MBA concentration in international business.

Students seeking an online master's degree may also choose to pursue a master's degree in forensic psychology. This 35-credit-hour program can be completed in two years and includes recorded lectures with one on-campus visit. Guide to Online schools ranked the program as the best online college for a forensic psychology degree. The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology program at UND prepares students to apply psychology to legal systems by emphasizing how students can relate psychological evaluations to the social service and criminal justice systems.

One of its most well-known fields, the University of North Dakota offers an online Master of Science in Space Studies. This multidisciplinary program includes space history, space policy and law, life support systems, space engineering, planetary science and space-related aspects of management and business. Unlike a traditional aerospace engineering degree, the MS in Space Studies provides students with a broad background in order to understand the relationships between policy, space science and engineering. Students pursuing this degree from the University of North Dakota also have research opportunities, including aerospace payload development, remote sensing of the environment, the development of a Lunar/Mars base, solar astronomy, study of main-belt and near-Earth asteroids and spacecraft and spacesuit simulator design, building and testing.