Number of North Dakota high schoolers enrolled in college courses at record high

Oct. 28—GRAND FORKS — Almost 80% of undergraduate college students enrolled within the North Dakota College System come from simply two states — North Dakota and Minnesota — in accordance with the group’s director of institutional analysis.

Jen Weber, director of institutional analysis, cited the statistic in a presentation earlier than Thursday’s State Board of Greater Training assembly. North Dakota college students comprise 55% of NDUS’ undergraduate inhabitants, with Minnesota college students representing 24%.

“NDUS is extremely dependent upon college students from North Dakota and Minnesota,” stated Weber. “The identical holds true for graduate college students, the place 64% are from the 2 states as properly.”

NDUS’ census information report incorporates complete information relating to NDUS enrollment by county. Cass County leads enrollment with 5,472 college students, adopted by Burleigh, Grand Forks and Ward counties.

Of Grand Forks County’s 2,880 college students enrolled within the college system, the overwhelming majority — 2,172 — are enrolled at UND, probably the most represented North Dakota county on the college. Cass and Burleigh counties are second and third by illustration at UND, with 944 and 540 college students, respectively.

Cumulative enrollment inside NDUS is up .4% from final fall, in contrast with a mean enrollment decline of 1.1% nationally. Moreover, whereas enrollment declined by round 7% nationally between 2019 and 2022, NDUS enrollment solely declined by 3.1%, in accordance with a press launch from the group.

NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott attributes comparatively regular enrollment figures to the adaptability of the group’s establishments.

“The management at our faculties and universities needs to be counseled for adapting and reworking their establishments,” stated Hagerott, by way of the press launch. “All 11 establishments proceed to try to supply reasonably priced diploma applications and programs individuals need, the place and when they need them, whereas concurrently matching the workforce wants within the state.”

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One contributing issue to NDUS’ elevated enrollment is a big achieve in twin enrolled excessive schoolers. There are 4,668 North Dakota highschool college students taking school programs for credit score, in accordance with the census information report, a rise of 813 college students from the earlier yr.

Fall 2022’s twin enrollment cohort is the biggest in NDUS historical past. Billie Jo Lorius, director of communications and media for NDUS, attributed the achieve in twin enrollees to a state incentive.

“We consider the rise is as a result of enactment of HB 1375 — a tuition scholarship program that was handed within the final legislative session,” stated Lorius.

The invoice’s textual content states that eligible college students might obtain as much as 50% of the price of their dual-credit course, not exceeding $750 per course.

The variety of graduate college students inside NDUS can be at a historic excessive — 6,585 — which is a virtually threefold enhance over the previous 20 years. Lorius cites extra professions requiring superior levels as one purpose behind this pattern.

“I do know somebody on a youth soccer board in Fargo,” stated Lorius. “They rent sports activities medication professionals to workers all of their video games. These individuals, and others at Sanford Well being affirm {that a} grasp’s diploma is now required to be an athletic coach. If and if you increase schooling necessities, it forces extra individuals into the superior applications to get their diploma.”