We Train The Hands That Build North Dakota
A look inside the college doing the work to keep North Dakota running — from wheat fields to hospital floors, from aviation hangars to fire departments.
- 30.1% Enrollment Growth Since 2020
- +20% Wage growth since 2022
- 68% ND grads who stay in-state
Somewhere today, a welding student is running her first perfect bead in a Wahpeton shop. In another lab, a nursing student is working through a critical-care scenario. In an aviation hangar in North Fargo, a technician is learning flight mechanics for the very first time. They are all training for specific jobs to fill the workforce needs of communities right here in North Dakota.
At NDSCS, success isn’t measured in credits accumulated. It’s measured in careers launched—and in the businesses, hospitals, and communities those careers go on to serve. Starting wages for NDSCS graduates climbed more than 20% in just three years, a clear signal that what students learn here, employers are eager to pay for.
“Going to college helped me learn about new technologies that will help keep our family farm running.”
— Tanner · Agriculture
A Stronger NDSCS Means A Stronger North Dakota
NDSCS isn’t just part of North Dakota’s college system. It is a critical piece of North Dakota’s infrastructure.
- 27 of 53 ND counties with NDSCS grads
- 32+ programs across every sector
- 100+ years of workforce service
When a hospital needs a nurse, an ag cooperative needs a precision technician, or a construction firm needs a project manager, they look for NDSCS graduates. Because NDSCS trains people for those exact roles, with expertise that makes a difference from day one.
The college’s programs aren’t pulled from a generic catalog; they’re written in direct response to what North Dakota’s employers say they need. Advisory boards of working professionals review curricula regularly. Equipment in the shops is current because the companies that donate it need graduates who can operate it immediately. When industry changes, NDSCS changes with it.
Across 27 of North Dakota’s 53 counties, you’ll find an NDSCS graduate in a hospital, a shop, a school, or a field. That reach is intentional: the college was built to serve the whole state, and it does. From dental clinics in Bismarck to agricultural cooperatives on the western plains, NDSCS-trained professionals are part of the backbone of North Dakota’s economy.
“From alongside dentists’ chairs to inside fire stations, North Dakota runs on NDSCS graduates.”
“I know people who have gone through NDSCS. They’ve expressed how much they enjoyed the experience — and learned about their degree.”
— Jack · Business Management
NDSCS At A Glance
Key indicators for North Dakota’s Office of Management and Budget
- 30.1% Enrollment Growth Since 2020
- 73.54% Student Retention Rate
- 97% Graduate Placement Rate
- 68% Graduates Stay in North Dakota
- $10M+ Annual Industry Partnership Value
- 30% Graduates From Outside ND That Stay in ND
The Two-Year College With The Big-College Feel
Every perk you’d expect from a four-year university — residence halls, varsity sports, performing arts — in two years, at a fraction of the cost.
NDSCS offers students far more than a credential. With on-campus residence halls, seven athletic teams, performing arts, and more than 250 student events each year, the NDSCS experience rivals any four-year institution—while delivering career-ready outcomes in just two years. Students come to belong to something—a community that invests in their success, with instructors who know their names.
Tuition at NDSCS is among the most affordable in the region, and for students who live on campus, the full college experience—the games, the friendships, the late-night study sessions—costs thousands less per year than a comparable four-year school. You don’t sacrifice the experience. You just spend less to have it.
“My company sponsors me to come here. I come out with less debt and a guaranteed job.”
— Gannon · HVAC/R Technology
The Full College Experience At NDSCS
- On-Campus Residence Halls
- 7 NJCAA Athletic Programs
- Performing Arts & Theater
- 250+ Campus Events Per Year
- Among The Most Affordable In The Region
- 2-Year Career-Ready Degrees
Across 27 of North Dakota’s 53 counties, you’ll find an NDSCS graduate in a hospital, a shop, a school, or a field.
Also In Fargo — The Career Innovation Center
The Career Innovation Center in Fargo anchors C3TEC— linking area high schools, regional employers, and NDSCS to build the workforce before graduation day arrives. Dual credit, career exploration, live industry partnerships: it’s how NDSCS starts training North Dakota’s next generation while they’re still in high school.
“Being an EMS student was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life — skilled instructors who genuinely cared about every student’s long-term success.”
— Megan · EMS
When Workforce Demand Grows, So Does NDSCS
Enrollment at NDSCS doesn’t follow national trends. It follows North Dakota’s industries — and right now, those industries need people.
Average Starting Wage Snapshot — Select NDSCS Programs, Class Of 2025
| Program | Avg. Starting Wage |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygiene | $80,320 |
| Nursing (RN) | $80,225 |
| Welding Technology | $59,806 |
| HVAC/R Technology | $49,660 |
| All 2025 Graduates — Weighted Average | $53,500 |
When construction booms, Building Construction Technology grows. When healthcare expands, nursing programs fill fast. NDSCS has designed itself to be responsive: new program tracks, expanded cohorts, and employer-funded equipment that keeps pace with real demand.
With most programs averaging starting wages above $50,000—and a weighted average of $57,152 across all 2025 graduates—NDSCS isn’t preparing students for modest starts. It’s launching careers. And because those careers exist right here, graduates stay. In fact, two out of three North Dakota-raised NDSCS graduates remain in-state, a statistic every North Dakota community benefits from directly.
The numbers tell only part of the story. The other part is employers calling before students graduate. Program directors report that students in high-demand fields often receive job offers months before their final semester ends—a pipeline so tight that filling seats in the classroom is filling open positions across the state.
In Their Own Words — And Who We Are
The students who have walked through NDSCS say it best. And the numbers back them up.
“It’s a different learning scenario. Rather than sitting in class, you get to actually get hands-on.”
— Edgar · Electrical Technology
“I feel confident that I have a firm foundation — a stepping stone to jump off of and grow into the industry.”
— Kyle · Architectural Modeling & Design Technology
“After I graduated, I was so grateful for all the hands-on learning — I could use it to be one step ahead.”
— Grace · Culinary Arts
“It was definitely more affordable than surrounding colleges—and it felt like home.”
— Jacob · Nursing
North Dakota State College Of Science
NDSCS is North Dakota’s premier technical college — headquartered in Wahpeton with a growing Fargo presence through the Career Innovation Center and NDSCS 19th Avenue. For more than a century, the college has served the people and industries of the region.
With programs across healthcare, trades, technology, business, and agriculture, NDSCS delivers university breadth with technical-college focus. Students train in modern facilities under instructors who come from the industries they teach — accredited, affordable, and deeply rooted in North Dakota.
A Century Of Service To North Dakota
- 1903: Founded in Wahpeton to serve the region’s skilled workforce.
- Early-1900s: Expansion into health, agriculture, manufacturing & trades programs.
- 1987: Renamed North Dakota State College of Science.
- 2025: Fargo Career Innovation Center opens.
- Today: Three seamless locations plus online.
Ready To Build Your Future?
Read this story as it appears in the September/October issue:
