University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state and actually opened several years before North Dakota even became a state. Established in 1883, it opened for classes the following years. Its original campus was quite small and had just one building that functioned as a library, had spaces for classes and offered offices for teachers. New buildings quickly followed, which offered more classroom space and residence halls for students. The UND campus now consists of a central, western, eastern and southern campus that offer different opportunities for students.

UND grew from used 24 students in its first year to more than 15,000 students today. Part of its growth is due to the number of programs it added over the years and the strong reputation it built for itself. The University of North Dakota ranks among the top national colleges, according to Forbes, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. UND launched its Division of Continuing Education to appeal to working students and those who took time off before going back to school. Though this division initially offered distance learning programs, it now offers online programs like the UND online MBA.

University of North Dakota Accreditation Details

Prospective UND students will find that this university has regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). NCACS accreditation is important for students who need financial aid because it is one of the requirements of obtaining government aid like grants. As UND renews its accreditation every decade, students will know that they get the best education possible. The university also has program accreditation that applies to its business, occupational therapy, psychology, music and other programs. Its music programs have accreditation from the National Schools of Music, while its occupational therapy program has accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Some of the other professional organizations and agencies that gave UND accreditation include:

• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology
• American Psychological Association
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Committee on Professional Training & American Chemical Society
• Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

University of North Dakota Application Requirements

Those applying to the University of North Dakota Graduate School should ensure that they meet all admissions requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 20 credits at the bachelor's level in the same field they want to study in graduate school and have a bachelor's degree from an accredited school. Those applying must also have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher in all their undergrad classes and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all classes they took during their final two years in college. Students will fill out and file the online application and pay the $35 application fee.

Whether taking classes on the UND campus or taking classes online, all students must meet other base requirements, including submitting an official transcript and a goal statement. The transcript must come from the student's college, list when the student finished his or her bachelor's degree and include the student's GPA. The goal statement allows the student to tell the university more about his or her career and educational goals. UND asks for an official test score from the GRE, MAT or GMAT. All students must submit at least three letters of recommendation or professional reference letters also.

Tuition and Financial Aid

When designing its online program, UND wanted to offer those programs at a lower price that would help students more easily afford college. The university decided to eliminate nonresident rates and charge all students the same tuition rate, regardless of where they live. Its online MBA program charges a resident rate of around $360 per credit hour with a $50 per credit hour online/distance education fee, which brings their total to around $410 per credit hour. This rate includes all the fees charged by the university as well.

UND accepts a number of tuition assistance programs that help students pay for college. Former or active military students can use their benefits from the GI Bill. Those who work for companies that offer tuition assistance or reimbursement can also sign up and inform the university of their employer's programs. Students taking at least six credit hours per semester can complete the FAFSA and look for financial aid options like subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, grants and private student loans. The university recommends that students look into possible scholarships as well. Its Ben & Ruth Gustafson Continuing Education Endowment is a scholarship program open to continuing and online students who took at least two semesters of courses through the university.

Online MBA

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) online program offered by the University of North Dakota gives students the option of completing their degrees at any point in their careers. While some students enroll immediately after finishing a bachelor's degree, others enroll after working in the field for five years or more. This program lets students finish an MBA in around two years, but students must take a minimum of 33 credits of classes. Called one of the top MBA programs and one of the most affordable MBA programs, it consists of more traditional semester courses instead of the six-week and eight-week classes offered by other colleges.

One unique feature of this program is that it has a live class that meets once a week. Students log into the online system and interact with their professor and other students in the class. They can do the rest of the work required on their own throughout the rest of the week. Students take courses on management, marketing, accounting, finance and economics.

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Though UND does not require that students do a thesis or a final project, they do take a minimum of 11 classes. Those classes include principles of financial management, elements of accounting, operations management, marketing foundations, business law and applied calculus. The University of North Dakota does not offer a wide range of concentrations like other online schools do, but it does let MBA students choose a concentration in international business.