If you are a student that follows a different catalog year, see your department chair or the Office of Academic Records.

Admission Requirements

For information about attending Dickinson State University, write to the Director of Admissions, Dickinson State University, 291 Campus Drive, Dickinson, N.D., 58601-4896. New applicants for the Fall term should apply early, preferably in the Spring. Former Dickinson State University students returning after an absence should contact the Office of Academic Records at least 10 days before they expect to resume their studies.

Application Procedure

The application for admission form is available at the Office of Academic Records. It should be filled out completely and returned, along with a non-refundable $35 admission fee. The admissions and registration process also requires:

  1. The applicant’s high school transcript, or his/her GED scores, must be mailed directly to the Dickinson State University Office of Academic Records from his/her high school, or in the case of GED scores, directly from the appropriate state agency where these documents are kept. High school transcripts must include the applicant’s class rank, grade point average (based on a 4.0 honor point system) and ACT or SAT score. The applicant’s ACT or SAT score should be submitted directly from the testing center; however, a photocopy of that document taken from the high school transcript will be accepted.
  2. The applicant must complete his/her health and medical history and present evidence of 2 immunizations for measles and rubella, or proof of a positive serologic test for measles and rubella, or proof that the student has a medical exemption to the immunization requirement or a signed statement of a religious philosophical exemption to the immunization requirement.

Open Enrollment

Dickinson State’s admission policy allows a student to enroll if he or she is a high school graduate or has successfully completed the GED examination and has completed the American College Test (ACT).

GED Requirements

A beginning freshman who has not earned a high school diploma may be admitted to Dickinson State University if the student has successfully completed the GED battery of tests with an average score of 450 and a minimum score of 410 in each subject area. Any student wishing to take a GED exam should contact Dickinson Public School Central Administration at 701-456-0002.

High School Students Taking College Courses

The high school student must complete the Dickinson State University form requesting permission to take a college course, and have the written permission from the high school principal or other designated high school authority. The student must be at least a junior in high school. For further information contact the Office of Academic Affairs, May Hall, room 118.

In-state Students

A beginning freshman applicant who is a resident of the State of North Dakota will be admitted to a baccalaureate program at Dickinson State University provided the applicant has met the admissions requirements as set forth by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education:

NOTE: Students who have not completed all units of the required H.S. core and wish to earn a baccalaureate degree, will be admitted but must initially enroll in an Associate Degree program (Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Applied Science) and earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit before receiving permission to pursue a baccalaureate degree program.

Out-of-state Students

Applicants from outside of North Dakota must meet the same general requirements as in-state students. Out-of-state students with ACT scores of less than 18 or ranking in the lower half of their graduating class will be carefully reviewed before being accepted by the University.

Western Undergraduate Exchange Admission (WUE)
All programs at Dickinson State are available for WUE students.

Residency Status
Students requesting residency status must complete the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education’s Application for Resident Student Status, which is available from the Division of Business Affairs office. Business Affairs will review and act upon completed applications within two weeks of their receipt.

To be considered for residency tuition for a specific semester, applications must be submitted within three weeks of the start of the semester. Refunds will not be given for semesters the student attended prior to filing the application for residency.
           
Under guidelines instituted by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, a student may obtain residency status while a student at a North Dakota institution of higher learning if he/she is:

  1. A person less than 18 years of age who resides with a parent or guardian who has been a legal resident of North Dakota for 12 months;
  2. A person 18 years of age or older who has been a legal resident of North Dakota for 12 months;
  3. A dependent whose parent or guardian has been a legal resident of North Dakota for 12 months or resides in the state with the intent to establish residency in North Dakota for a period of years;
  4. A person who graduated from a North Dakota high school within five years (64 months) prior to registration;
  5. A full-time active duty member of the armed forces assigned to a military installation in North Dakota;
  6. A spouse or a dependent of a full-time active duty member of the armed forces assigned to a military installation in North Dakota;
  7. A dependent of an instructor who lives in North Dakota and teaches at an institution of higher education in the state;
  8. The spouse of any person who is a resident for tuition purposes; or
  9. Any other person who has resided in North Dakota for at least three consecutive years (36 months) within the last eight years (96 months).

International Students
Dickinson State University is authorized under federal law to accept international students. For international students the admissions requirements are as follows:
1.         Evaluation of the applicant’s academic record (high school or college transcript)
2.         Evaluation of the applicant’s financial resources
3.         Proficiency in the use of the English language or a minimum TOEFL score of 525 (195 on computer version) for applicants whose native language is not English
4.         Fulfillment of the same general requirements as in-state students.

International Students

Dickinson State University is authorized under federal law to accept international students. For international students the admissions requirements are as follows:

  1. Evaluation of the applicant’s academic record (high school or college transcript)
  2. Evaluation of the applicant’s financial resources
  3. Proficiency in the use of the English language or a minimum TOEFL score of 525 (195 on computer version) for applicants whose native language is not English
  4. Fulfillment of the same general requirements as in-state students.

Transfer Students

For admission evaluation purposes a transfer student is one who has attended one or more post-secondary institutions after high school graduation. ALL STUDENTS MUST NOTIFY THE Office of Academic Records IF THEY HAVE ATTENDED ANOTHER COLLEGE. If a transfer student has completed fewer than 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of transferable credit the admission decision may be based on both the high school record and college transcripts. In such cases, the Office of Academic Records must receive the student’s high school transcript as well as the college transcript. Transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours must meet the admission requirements as new freshmen.

Transfer students who have completed more than 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of transferable credit will be admitted if they are in good academic standing at their most recent institution attended. They should have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. If they do not meet the 2.0 GPA, they may be evaluated on an individual basis. Upon completion of the transcript evaluation, the student may be admitted to Dickinson State University on a full admission, probation status, or be denied admission.

Students who have graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university will be considered GERTA (General Education) complete at Dickinson State University. 
Note: Specific DSU general education classes which are required for certification (teacher education) or licensure (nursing) may still be required by some departments.

Transfer students who have received an Associate in Science Degree (exceptions noted below) at another institution and intend to complete a four-year degree at Dickinson State University must meet the general education requirements of this University or the requirements of the North Dakota University System General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement.

Students who have graduated from a regionally accredited institution with an Associate in Arts degree will be declared complete (**) with respect to their (baccalaureate degree) general education requirements.

Students who have graduated from one of the following institutions with an Associate in Arts Degree or an Associate in Science Degree will be declared complete with respect to their (baccalaureate degree) General Education requirements:
1.         Any NDUS institution
2.         Miles Community College (MT) **
3.         Dawson Community College (MT) **
4.         Cankdeska Cikana Community College
5.         Fort Berthold Community College
6.         Sitting Bull College
7.         United Tribes Technical College
8.         Any two-year Wyoming College **
**Must have earned a minimum of nine (9) credits (6 credits) in beginning composition and (3 credits) basic speech. Any missing credits must be completed once enrolled at DSU.

Students who attend colleges and universities in the North Dakota University System are guaranteed that approved General Education requirements successfully completed at one of the NDUS institutions will transfer to other NDUS institutions. This practice was made possible when the State Board of Higher Education adopted the General Education Requirements Transfer Agreement (GERTA). Transfer students should consult the Office of Academic Records for information regarding this agreement.

Transfer applicants suspended from their college of last attendance will not be admitted to Dickinson State University for one full term after the suspension (the term of suspension will not include the summer term).

Transfer students must request that transcripts from all previous colleges attended be sent directly from that college to the Dickinson State University Office of Academic Records.

For admission purposes a partial transcript is acceptable, but must be followed by complete transcripts when the student’s course work is completed.

All transfer students who have attended a college or university for one or more terms prior to transferring to Dickinson State University will have their academic transcripts evaluated as follows:
1.  Registrar will evaluate all general education requirements, and
2.  College Dean or department chair will evaluate the student’s major area of study.

The above action will be taken when the student completes the application for admission and an academic transcript has been received from the student’s prior school. This evaluation is official and will be signed and dated by the person making the evaluation.

Dickinson State University will accept (with noted “credit limitations” and “block credit stipulations”) credit from regionally-accredited institutions.

Transient Students

A student enrolled at another college or university may register at Dickinson State University for one term to earn credits toward a degree at another school. If the student wishes to attend for more than one term, the complete registration process must be followed. The student may appeal the results of the transcript evaluation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs who, upon examination, may authorize adjustments.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Notification of Rights under FERPA for Dickinson State University

Student records maintained by the University fall into two general categories, directory information and educational records. As custodian of student records in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the University assumes the trust and obligation to ensure the full protection of student records which includes maintaining the confidentiality of educational records. The administrative procedures that follow are to be complied with by University personnel who have or accumulate educational records that are in a personally identifiable form.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

1.         The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, chair of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2.         The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.         The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another North Dakota University System (NDUS) school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.