Minnesotans Attending North Dakota Colleges and Universities

Minnesota's ambitious plan to give lower-income residents free college has created a "crisis" here at home in north dakota, where higher education officials worry about a drop in enrollment from Minnesota students who can get a better deal at home. We are hearing a lot of buzz from the eastern side of the state. About this issue according to NDSU 52% of their enrollment numbers each year are Minnesota students. NDSU being the top out of state pick for minnesota college freshmen. But how are the other universites in the satate doing. Soon I-94 will be full of students making their way across the state to attend their institution of higher learning so if we follow the interstate for a short drive down I-94 West of Fargo you will find Valley City State University. Who, according to the most up to date numbers saw their 4th largest class of incoming freshman ever last year. A little further down the road is the University of Jamestown. Last year they had 1,150 students and according to their office of admissions 20% of those students were from Minnesota. They also mentioned that 2/3rds of their student population are student athletes or part of their drama program. They do not expect a large drop in attendance accoding to their office of admission. Even further down the interstate you will find Bismarck State College right here in Bismarck. Last year they had 3,771 students. That is up over 200 students from the previous year. Their office of admissions stated that on an average year they can anticpate 1.9% of their student body to be from Minnesota. And even further still down the road in Dickinson you have Dickinson State University. Who according to their office of admissions had 15 students from Minnesota they also mentioned that a majority of those students were student athletes.