| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public college in the North Dakota University System; the state’s only polytechnic. On campus and online |
| Locations | Main campus in Bismarck, including the National Energy Center of Excellence; Mandan Campus and a lineworker training facility in Mandan; practical and RN nursing also taught by video at five rural North Dakota hospitals |
| Credentials | Certificates of completion, program certificates, associate degrees (AAS, plus AA and AS for transfer) and 14 bachelor of applied science (BAS) degrees |
| Typical length | EMT 16 weeks; many certificates about a year; associate degrees two years |
| Students | 4,668 in fall 2026, a record |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission since 1966; next reaffirmation 2028-29 |
| Federal aid | Yes, school code 002988 |
| 2026-27 tuition | From $195.09 per credit at the in-state rate, which also covers residents of 10 nearby states, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and US military |
| Founded | 1939, as Bismarck Junior College; renamed in 1987; polytechnic since 2020 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
North Dakota’s polytechnic college
Bismarck State College (BSC) is a public college in the North Dakota University System. It opened in 1939 as Bismarck Junior College, took its current name in 1987 and has worked as the state’s only polytechnic since October 2020, under a mission the State Board of Higher Education set in 2018. That means one- and two-year technical programs, applied bachelor’s degrees and university-transfer courses at the same college. It enrolled a record 4,668 students in fall 2026, up 119 on the year before.
Its program list leans toward energy, through the National Energy Center of Excellence on the main campus, along with health care and the building and mechanical trades. Many IT, business and communication programs can be taken fully online. Lineworker and mechanical maintenance training take place at two sites in Mandan. College admission is open, but most technical and health programs take capped classes on fixed start dates.
Programs and where they are taught
BSC says it offers more than 100 career pathways. The table shows the main career programs in the 2026-27 catalog; BSC does not publish whole-program prices, so costs are covered in the tuition section below.
| Program | Credential | Length and start | Delivery and site | Accreditation or exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing (LPN) | Certificate | 11 months, fall start | Bismarck and five hospital sites by interactive video | NCLEX-PN; ND Board of Nursing approval to Oct 2029 |
| Associate Degree Nurse (RN) | AAS | 9 months after the PN year | Same as PN | NCLEX-RN; ACEN |
| Surgical Technology | AAS | 2 years, spring start | Bismarck, with hospital internship | CST; CAAHEP |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | AAS | 4 semesters, fall start | Bismarck, then 7-month internship | ARDMS; CAAHEP |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | AAS | 2 years, with 22-week clinical rotation | Bismarck; satellite at Miles Community College, MT | ASCP BOC; NAACLS |
| Medical Assistant | Program certificate | Fall or spring start | Online or Bismarck, with ND clinicals | NCCT; ND Medical Assistant III registry |
| Paramedic Technology | AAS or certificate | 3 semesters, fall start | Bismarck, with clinicals across ND | NREMT; CAAHEP |
| Emergency Medical Technician | Certificate of completion | 16 weeks, fall or spring | Bismarck | NREMT |
| Lineworker (Electrical) | AAS or certificate | June start, 60 seats | Mandan lineworker facility | OSHA 10; CDL-prep courses |
| Mechanical Maintenance Technology | AAS, 66 credits | 4 semesters | Mandan Campus | Up to 8 AWS certifications; OSHA 10; forklift |
| Electrician Technician | AAS | 2 years, fall start | Bismarck (NECE) | Apprentice electrician |
| Energy Services & Renewable Technician | AAS or certificate | Fall start | Bismarck (NECE) | Wind and solar PV systems |
| Power plant, process plant, nuclear, electric power and other energy programs | AAS and certificates | Varies | Listed as online, run from NECE | – |
| Welding | Program certificate or AAS | 1-year certificate, fall start | Bismarck | AWS Certified Welder |
| HVAC | Program certificate or AAS | Fall start | Bismarck | EPA refrigerant exam; NCCER |
| Carpentry (Residential) | Program certificate or AAS | 9-month certificate, fall start | Bismarck | – |
| Automotive Technology | Certificates or AAS | Fall start | Bismarck | ASE Education Foundation (MAST) |
| Automotive Collision Technology | Program certificate or AAS | 11-month certificate | Bismarck, weekdays 7 am–2 pm | ASE Education Foundation |
| Diesel Technology | Program certificate | 1 year, fall start | Synchronous online plus employer co-op | Requires a finished automotive program |
| Agriculture Industry & Technology (Agronomy) | AAS | Includes 400-hour summer co-op | Bismarck | ND Commercial Pesticide Applicator licence |
| Land Surveying Technology | AAS or certificate | – | Bismarck | ND Land Surveyor Intern education |
| Cybersecurity & Computer Networks | AAS | – | Online or Bismarck | CompTIA, CCNA, CEH |
| Cybersecurity & Information Technology | BAS | – | Online (live or self-paced) or Bismarck | – |
| Foundations of Teaching | BAS | – | Online or Bismarck | Title I Paraprofessional; ND Substitute Teaching License |
From fall 2026, Welding, Carpentry, HVAC and Automotive Collision no longer award a diploma; only the certificate and the associate degree remain. Programmatic accreditation includes ACEN for the RN degree, CAAHEP for paramedic, surgical technology and sonography, NAACLS for medical laboratory technology and the ASE Education Foundation for automotive and collision.
The college’s fully online programs, such as the cybersecurity, business, finance, management and communication degrees, are open to students in other states through NC-SARA. BSC says it “does not have state authorization for all programs in all states” for programs that lead to a licence. Since 11 January 2026 it has automatically emailed applicants from states where a program does not meet licensing rules.
Several health fields on BSC’s list are pre-professional transfer tracks only: there is no occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, respiratory therapy, pharmacy technician, veterinary technician or radiography credential. Criminal justice, computer science and data science are also transfer degrees.
What the main programs cover
Practical and registered nursing
Nursing runs through the Dakota Nursing Program, a consortium with its own yearly application, separate from admission to BSC. Year one is the 11-month practical nursing certificate, which starts in fall; students who finish with at least a 2.75 GPA can go on to a nine-month second year for the Associate Degree Nurse AAS. Lectures are broadcast over the Interactive Video Network from Bismarck to hospital sites in Ashley, Garrison, Harvey, Hazen and Hettinger, where students also do their clinicals.
Lineworker (Electrical)
The lineworker program has its own 20-acre yard northwest of Mandan, separate from the main campus. Only one class is admitted each year, 60 students starting in June, so applicants who miss it wait a full year. Training includes pole climbing and pole-top rescue, OSHA 10 safety training and coursework that prepares students for a commercial driver’s licence (CDL). Students choose between the program certificate and the associate degree. BSC reports 90% placement, with pay of up to $40 an hour, but gives no cohort.
Mechanical Maintenance Technology
This four-semester, 66-credit associate degree is the only program confirmed at the Mandan Campus on Twin City Drive. Along with the degree, students can test for up to eight American Welding Society welding certifications and complete OSHA 10 and forklift training. The program page lists books at $345, $190 and $185 for successive semesters, and students should allow about $150 for boots and gloves. BSC reports 100% placement and pay of about $38 an hour, without saying which class or how it counts.
Surgical technology
Unlike BSC’s nursing, sonography and paramedic programs, surgical technology admits its limited class in spring. The two-year degree ends with a clinical internship course (SRGT 280) at affiliated hospitals, and from September 2026 a partnership with Sanford Bismarck adds operating-room training. Graduates take the Certified Surgical Technologist exam; BSC reports that every member of its 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes who took it passed on the first attempt. The program’s CAAHEP accreditation, through ARC/STSA, runs to 2034.
Diesel Technology
Diesel is not an entry-level program at BSC. Applicants must first finish an ASE Master Automobile Service Technology program, such as BSC’s own automotive degree. The diesel year itself is a single program certificate: classes are synchronous online, at set times, and all hands-on work happens in a supervised co-op internship with an approved employer. It starts only in fall. Students who want a full-time campus shop program should note that the hands-on training here happens at the employer.
Cybersecurity & Computer Networks
Every class in this associate degree is offered both online and on the Bismarck campus, so students can mix formats or study from another state. The course list is built around industry certifications: CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Server+ and CySA+, plus Cisco CCNA and the CEH ethical-hacking exam. Graduates can continue into the Cybersecurity & Information Technology BAS, which can be taken live online, self-paced online or on campus. Stackable certificates cover digital forensics, security operations and secure programming.
Tuition and fees for 2026-27
BSC charges by the subject of each course, not by program, and the same rates apply on campus and online. The 2026-27 tuition and fees sheet, effective 6 April 2026, lists these per-credit rates (as summarized when we read it):
| 2026-27, per credit | In-state rate | Other US residents |
|---|---|---|
| 100- and 200-level general, business and IT courses | $195.09 | $292.64 |
| 100- and 200-level technical courses (such as AUTO, CARP, HVAC, WELD, LNWK, DMS, SRGT, EMS) | $239.43 | $359.15 |
| Nursing (NURS) courses | $279.84 | $419.77 |
| 300- and 400-level (BAS) courses | $251.68 | $377.52 |
The in-state rate also applies to residents of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and to US military, a policy in place since fall 2022. Mandatory fees add about $69.81 per credit, capped at 12 credits, and Electric Power (ELPW) and Nuclear Power (NUPT) courses carry an extra $44 per credit. A 12-credit semester of general courses therefore costs $3,178.80 in tuition and fees at the in-state rate, or about $6,358 for a full-time year; on technical courses it is $3,710.88 a semester, about $7,422 a year. BSC’s Fast Facts page still quotes “around $5,000”, which is out of date. Niche puts the average net price at $10,462 a year.
Program pages add their own costs: about $500 a semester in books and $700 to $1,200 in tools for Electrician Technician, a $500 to $700 camera for graphic design, and tool kits for HVAC and plumbing.
Federal aid, scholarships and military benefits
- Federal aid: BSC takes federal student aid (school code 002988). Its EMT and Paramedic pages say the program is “not eligible for Federal Title IV student financial aid”; ask which credential that covers.
- BSC Foundation scholarships: $250 to $6,000 each, about $1.6 million a year by the college’s count, with a 2.5 GPA minimum and a 1 January priority deadline. Categories include academic, athletics, energy, technical and the arts.
- Program support: Heavy Equipment Operations students can apply for tuition assistance from Fisher Industries, and the Medical Laboratory Technician program is funded by the US Department of Labor, with priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses.
- Military: US military pay the in-state rate, and North Dakota has a separate residency category for military veterans.
Admission and start dates
Admission to the college is open. First-year applicants to a bachelor’s (BAS) program need a 2.0 high-school GPA and a set pattern of core courses, applicants aged 25 or older are exempt from the high-school requirements, and transfer applicants need 24 credits at a 2.0 GPA.
Getting into a specific technical or health program is harder, because many are limited-enrollment cohorts with a single start:
- Fall only: welding, HVAC, carpentry, collision, automotive, electrician, agronomy, heavy equipment, diesel, sonography, paramedic (apply by 1 May) and nursing.
- Spring only: surgical technology and Applied Design Technology.
- June: lineworker.
- Fall or spring: EMT (deadlines 15 August and 30 December), medical assistant and construction management.
Nursing needs a separate Dakota Nursing Program application, and medical assistant applicants need a CNA credential, a background check and a drug screen. Most online courses are asynchronous, but Diesel Technology meets online at set times. Collision classes run on weekdays from 7 am to 2 pm.
Accreditation and results
BSC has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 30 March 1966. HLC last reaffirmed its accreditation in 2018-19, with monitoring, and the next reaffirmation is due in 2028-29. After a 2023 assurance review, HLC continued the accreditation with monitoring and required a focused visit on program review and assessment; that visit took place on 2–3 December 2024 and HLC accepted it on 18 February 2025. On 3 February 2026 an HLC visit to confirm one of BSC’s additional locations ended with the action “Confirm Location with Concerns”; HLC does not say which location. None of these actions is a sanction: BSC is not on probation, notice or show-cause.
The ND Board of Nursing reports these first-time licensing exam results for BSC’s nursing graduates (fiscal years July to June):
| Exam | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-PN (first-time takers) | 33 of 33 (100%) | 24 of 24 (100%); state total 98.5% |
| NCLEX-RN (first-time takers) | 46 of 47 (97.87%) | 38 of 41 (92.68%); state total 92.38% |
BSC also reports a 100% first-attempt CST pass rate in surgical technology for the classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025, and a 97% first-time ASCP pass rate in medical laboratory technology since 1978, a cumulative figure with no recent cohort. Its lineworker (90%), mechanical maintenance (100%) and agronomy (100%) placement figures come without a cohort or definition. We found no published pass rates for paramedic, sonography or medical assisting. Niche, using federal data, shows a 47% graduation rate.
Before you enroll
- The “pre-” health tracks (pre-OT, pre-PT, pre-respiratory therapy, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, pre-radiologic technology) are transfer degrees. BSC has no credential that qualifies you to work in those fields.
- Dental Hygiene is seeking initial CODA accreditation; the site visit was in June 2026 and we could not confirm the outcome. A Dental Assisting degree approved by the state board in July 2024 is not in the 2026-27 catalog. Check the status before you apply.
- Open admission does not mean an open seat. Many trade and health programs are limited-enrollment and start once a year, so missing a fall start (or lineworker’s June start) can cost a year.
- Online access depends on the program. Non-licensure online degrees are open through NC-SARA, but nursing, paramedic, medical assistant and teaching credentials are built around North Dakota clinicals and licences.
- HLC’s 2019 reaffirmation and 2023 review both came with monitoring, and its February 2026 location visit found “concerns”. This is not a sanction, but it is worth asking the college what HLC raised.
Three teaching sites in Bismarck and Mandan
| Site | Address | What is taught there |
|---|---|---|
| Main campus, with the National Energy Center of Excellence | 1500 Edwards Avenue, Bismarck | Nearly every program: health sciences, trades, energy, IT, business, communication and transfer courses |
| Mandan Campus | 1831 Twin City Drive, Mandan | Mechanical Maintenance Technology |
| Lineworker training facility | 3201 Nygren Dr. NW, Mandan | Lineworker (Electrical) |
The National Energy Center of Excellence is a building on the main campus, not a separate campus. Nursing is also taught at five hospitals (Ashley Medical Center, CHI St. Alexius Health Garrison, SMP Health – St. Aloisius in Harvey, Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen and West River Health Services in Hettinger), and BSC offers adult nursing and oilfield classes at the Bakken Area Skills Center in Watford City. Its medical laboratory program uses Miles Community College in Montana as a satellite. BSC also teaches dual-credit classes in local high schools and at two correctional facilities; these are not open to the public.
Housing and career help
BSC has seven residence halls, including the Health Science Hall, new in 2025, and a record 530 students lived on campus in fall 2025. Its fall career fair on 13 October 2026 is billed with more than 100 employers. Several programs build in work experience: the agronomy co-op (400 hours), the diesel employer co-op, the seven-month sonography internship, the 22-week laboratory rotation and the surgical technology internship. The National Energy Center of Excellence was designated the National Power Plant Operations Technology and Education Center in 2007.
What students say
On Niche, Bismarck State College is rated 4.03 out of 5 from 211 reviews, with an overall grade of B+ (checked October 2026). Reviewers most often praise a welcoming, supportive community, small classes with one-on-one access to instructors, and affordable tuition, and some mention campus activities. The most common complaints are a lack of school spirit and social life, trouble navigating online systems and limited choice in some programs; Niche’s professors grade is B−. We could not tell whether reviews were invited by the college or posted in bursts, and no other platform has enough reviews to compare (GradReports has two).
Sources
Checked October 2026: HLC accreditation status · BSC 2026-27 catalog · 2026-27 tuition and fees · Program accreditations · ND Board of Nursing 2024-25 report · Student disclosures (NC-SARA) · Locations · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing (Dakota Nursing Program)
- Practical Nursing (certificate, LPN)
- Associate Degree Nurse (AAS, RN)
Health Sciences
- Surgical Technology
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Dental Hygiene (seeking initial CODA accreditation)
- Health Administration (BAS, online)
- Clinical Exercise Science
- Exercise Science
- Exercise and Sports Studies
- Sports and Exercise Science (BAS)
Emergency Medical Services
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Paramedic Technology
Energy (National Energy Center of Excellence)
- Power Process (Power Plant) Technology
- Process Plant Technology
- Electric Power Technology
- Electrical Transmission Systems Technology
- Nuclear Power Technology
- Instrumentation & Control
- Petroleum Production
- Water & Wastewater
- Energy Services & Renewable Technician
- Energy Management (BAS)
Construction and Electrical Trades
- Carpentry (Residential)
- Construction Management Technology
- Electrician Technician
- Lineworker (Electrical) (Mandan)
- Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Plumbing (new; not yet in the 2026-27 catalog)
- Heavy Equipment Operations
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Land Surveying Technology
Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing
- Automotive Technology
- Automotive Collision Technology
- Diesel Technology
- Welding
- Mechanical Maintenance Technology (Mandan)
- Mechatronics Engineering Technology (BAS)
- Mechatronics I and II
- Industrial Automation & Robotics
- Industrial Robotics
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Geospatial / GIS Technician
Agriculture
- Agriculture Industry & Technology (Agronomy)
- Agribusiness
- Farm & Ranch Management
- Ranch Operations
Cybersecurity and Information Technology
- Cybersecurity & Computer Networks
- Cybersecurity & Information Technology (BAS)
- Computer Networking
- Digital Forensics & Incident Response
- Security Operations
- Offensive & Defensive Security
- IT & Cybersecurity Governance
- Modern Computing Technologies
- Electronics Technology
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Intelligent Machine Learning (BAS)
- Advanced Digital Technologies
Business
- Accounting
- CPA Accounting
- Finance (BAS)
- Financial Technologies
- Entrepreneurship
- Small Business Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Operations Management (BAS)
- Organizational Management & Leadership (BAS)
Communication and Design
- Strategic Communication
- Integrated Marketing & Communication (BAS)
- Mass Communication
- Digital Broadcasting
- Sports & Digital Broadcasting (BAS)
- Print & Digital Publications
- Graphic Design & Communications
- Applied Design Technology
- Graphic Design Technology
Education and Human Services
- Foundations of Teaching (BAS)
- Education Foundations certificates
- Human Services / Eligibility Worker
- Integrated Behavioral Sciences
- Behavioral Health (BAS)
University Transfer (AA/AS)
- Liberal arts transfer, including business administration, computer science, data science, criminal justice, engineering, psychology, performing arts and visual art
- Pre-professional tracks (pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, pre-respiratory therapy, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, pre-radiologic technology and others): transfer only, no BSC credential in these fields
Campus Locations
Bismarck, ND 1500 Edwards Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58506
Bismarck (Mandan), ND 1831 Twin City Drive, Mandan, ND 58554
Bismarck (Mandan), ND 3201 Nygren Dr. NW, Mandan, ND 58554