Explore North Dakota Through Data

March 2025 Newsletter

The North Dakota University System is comprised of the university system office, the system-wide Core Technology Services enterprise, and 11 public higher education institutions across the state. North Dakota’s institutions of higher education provide the state with an educated workforce ready to meet the challenges of North Dakota’s dynamic state economy. They also provide research, outreach, continuing education programs, arts and cultural activities for the state’s residents and businesses. In addition to these obvious effects, North Dakota’s universities and colleges are also drivers of economic activity. In this article, Dr. Nancy Hodur and Dean Bangsund, North Dakota State University, provide a brief overview of the recent assessment of the economic effects of the North Dakota University System. 

Read the article.

Make a Plan.

Age-based population projections provide essential insights for long-term planning across various sectors. According to the 2024 North Dakota Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, North Dakota's population is projected to grow by nearly 28,000 people over five years (a 4% growth rate). However, this growth is not expected to be consistent across age groups or geographies. The most significant population change by 2027 will be the continued aging of the baby-boom generation. Although, every region in the state is expected to see growth in this age group, the increases range from 9 percent to 28 percent. 

Find more details.

Explore the population change in an interactive dashboard.

Let Compass Points Guide You.

North Dakota Compass is launching its signature publication, Compass Points 2025, sponsored by the Dakota Medical Foundation. This annual indicator report captures the current state of North Dakota, the state in relation to other states, and measures progress over time. Use the 2025 Compass Points to better identify and build understanding about the issues and opportunities facing the state of North Dakota.

Explore Compass Points 2025.

North Dakota Compass' Major Trends have a new look in the form of interactive dashboards and are filled with up-to-date data, charts, and analysis! Become familiar with how the state has changed and where it currently is in the areas of Population, Economy and Workforce, Health, and Education.

Explore the Major Trends.