Best Online Colleges in North Dakota

Benefits of Studying Online in North Dakota

Despite its small size, North Dakota is home to many incredible geographic features, including the White Earth Valley, the Missouri River, and the International Peace Gardens, just to name a few. Its capitol, Bismarck, is the state’s second largest city with just over 74,000 inhabitants, and is named after the illustrious Otto von Bismarck, the former Prime Minister of Prussia who became the first chancellor of the unified Austria-Germany in the late 19th century. Also known as the Flickertail State, Sioux State, and Peace Garden State, North Dakota has a total population of just over 779,000, giving it claim to the 47th largest total population of any state and a meager 0.2% of the nation’s population. To put that into perspective, North Dakota is home to just 2.7 people per square mile and ranks as the 19th widest state with a total area of 70,698 square miles.

Employment Stats

Despite its small population, North Dakota has managed to develop an impressive job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the state had 432,300 non-farm workers, making it the nation’s 48th most active state and accounting for just 0.28% of the national employed workforce. Although the state is small, it still managed to add 11,900 new jobs since 2021, giving it a year over year change of 2.83%. That 2.83% actually makes North Dakota the 29th highest growth state in terms of jobs added year over year. However, that 11,900jobs growth is small in comparison to the median state, which boasts about -1,545k fewer jobs than the median (this accounts for 78% less employed people than the median).

North Dakota narrowly beat out Alaska, the 49th ranked state which had just 322,000 employed workers, giving the Flickertail State an advantage of 111,000 (or 34.5% more). On the other hand, North Dakota just missed past South Dakota (the 47th ranked state) which had 455,000 employed people, which is 23,000 more than North Dakota (or a 5.1% difference). That being said, North Dakota fell way short of the nation's leader, California, with a deficit of -98%.

Job Opportunities

North Dakota is home to some of the most picturesque landscapes in the United States, offering students unparalleled views and a host of outdoor recreation possibilities. But North Dakota is also a great spot to get a college degree and find a job right out of school. The state offers 565 unique job types (which ranks it 45th), giving it a -21.7% disadvantage to the national median of 722 occupations (Louisiana being the median state). Despite the lower total, North Dakota still has a healthy job market spread across technology, health care, energy, and hospitality.

The state is home to a number of universities, particularly the University of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks. It’s one of the nation’s largest institutions, with an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students. There’s also North Dakota State University in Fargo (located about a 5-hour drive away from Grand Forks). Both institutions offer a wide range of academic opportunities, from liberal arts to engineering, with top programs in several areas. The state also has a number of Fortune 500 companies, like Bobcat, Bob Evans Farms and Sanford Health.

On the whole, North Dakota offers an increasingly promising job market for those coming out of school. With an abundance of outdoor recreational features, a small but mighty labor force, and a steady job market, the Flickertail state is the ideal place to research the potential of an online college education.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)