Sep. 26—GRAND FORKS — The University of North Dakota’s official fall 2025 enrollment count has hit 15,844, putting it 594 students above the previous student body record of fall 2012’s 15,250. It’s a 5.49% increase over last year’s enrollment.
The North Dakota University System enrollment dashboard also puts UND as the top destination for North Dakota students.
UND President Andrew Armacost said the growth is the result of four key factors: Programs, affordability/scholarships, modernized learning/living spaces and an “exceptional vibe.”
“There’s a sense that faculty, staff and administration are all working very strongly together for one reason, and that’s to create an environment for our students to succeed,” he said. “When you can have that kind of environment, that vibe on campus, it really creates an inviting experience for our students.”
UND is not the only Grand Forks-region postsecondary education provider seeing growing enrollment numbers this fall. Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls reports a 15% increase from last fall and a 9.1% increase over the previous academic year. Mayville State University’s fall head count is a 7.14% increase over last fall at 1,215, a new record for the university. Lake Region State College in Devils Lake has 1,916 students enrolled this fall, a number it hasn’t seen since before the COVID pandemic.
Seeing rising numbers results in a positive outlook for UND, Armacost said.
“We have to keep the message of the value of both a two-year and a four-year education alive,” he said. “It increases one’s lifelong earnings and it gives them experiences while they’re on the campus that help people grow into just great, productive citizens and human beings.”
At UND, freshman numbers also are at an all-time high. Fall 2025 brought in 2,508 first-year students, beating the previous 2012 record of 2,360. There has been an increase in freshmen with presidential scholarships from last year’s 23% to this year’s 30%, and there has been a more than 30% increase in military affiliated students in the freshman class.
The undergraduate class as a whole make up much of the enrollment growth. Undergrad student numbers rose by 804, an increase of 7.3% from last fall.
Karyn Plumm, vice provost for undergraduate studies and student success, said advisers and student-support staff are proud that students continue to trust UND with their educational journey.
“We work hard to ensure that we are meeting students where they are and helping them take their next steps toward success,” she said.
Others on campus celebrating include Janelle Kilgore, vice provost for strategic enrollment management. The new record is “a clear sign that students are choosing our community for its academic excellence, welcoming environment and exceptional opportunities for growth,” she said.
Art Malloy, vice president for student affairs, attributes the record to the university’s academic experience, enrollment management team, collaboration between faculty and staff, facilities, leadership and “a wide range of opportunities for meaningful student engagement,” he said.
“It’s a great time to be a Fighting Hawk,” he said.
Eric Link, UND provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the growth over the last year is a testament to UND’s commitment to student success.
“The University of North Dakota continues to be a place where faculty care about their students, staff work to support students, and students can grow, thrive — and change the world,” he said.