The answer is "it depends." The actual time it will take you to complete your bachelor's degree will depend on:

• your previous college experience and the number of credits that transfer to UND's degree program
• the number of courses you choose to complete each semester

Keep in mind that it takes a full-time student (4 to 5 courses per semester) at least 4 years to complete their bachelor's degree. So, if you have no previous college experience, and you take courses on a part-time basis (2 courses per semester), it may take you at least 8 to 10 years to complete your degree.

To graduate with a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota, you are required to complete 39 credits of Essential Studies (general education) courses.

These courses are designed to:

• challenge you to think critically and creatively
• reason using numbers and charts
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• find and evaluate information from various kinds of sources
• increase your understanding of the role of diversity in a complex world

To complete the Essential Studies requirements, you have 2 main options:

1. Take semester-based OR enroll anytime, independent study courses from UND.
2. Take general education courses from a regionally accredited institution of higher education at a location near you. Prior to taking general education course from another institution, you should check with UND Online & Distance Education to make sure the credits will transfer and apply to your degree program.

Enroll anytime and online, semester-based courses are both college courses you can complete from anywhere at the time and place of your choice. You pick your time and place for studying, and can review materials as many times as you want to learn the information. With both course formats, you will receive in-state tuition regardless of where you live.

However, there are differences between enroll anytime and online, semester-based courses:

Enroll Anytime Courses

Enroll anytime courses are self-paced college courses you complete when, where, and how you want. With these courses, you can:

• enroll at any time and take up to 9 months to complete your course
• complete courses in an online or correspondence by mail format
• learn independently at your own pace
• complete lessons/exams on your own schedule

IMPORTANT! Enroll anytime courses do not follow the semester schedule do not qualify for financial aid.

Semester-Based Online Courses

Online, semester-based courses are online classes that follow the semester's schedule for completing lessons and exams. For most courses, you are not required to attend class at a set time. Some instructors may have set times for "live" Web discussions, which means that you may need to "log on" to your online course at a specific time.

With online, semester-based courses, you can:

• enroll in and complete your courses based on semester timelines
• complete courses online using Web-based tools
• interact with your instructor and other students through a virtual classroom
• complete lessons and exams by set deadlines during the semester
• use financial aid toward the tuition of your courses

Yes. You can enroll in both course types at the same time and both course formats can be used to complete your degree from the University of North Dakota. Keep in mind that there are differences between enroll anytime and online, semester-based courses, including registration deadlines and processes, eligibility for financial aid, ordering textbooks, time to complete and other important policies.

Yes. In order to take semester-based, online college courses, you must be admitted to the University of North Dakota. If you are not admitted to UND, you have 2 options:

Option 1: Apply for full undergraduate admission through UND Office of Admissions.

Option 2: Register for semester-based, online courses as a non-degree-seeking student. Simply click on the "Register Now" button to add the course to your shopping cart.

You will have access to your online course by the first day of the semester. Keep in mind that if you register after the semester has started, you will have access to your online course within 2 business days of registering.

No. Unless specified, you are not required to come to the UND campus at any time.

You may access your online course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your instructors will set the deadlines for assignments and exams to be completed—just like they would for on-campus courses.

For most courses, you will not be required to attend class at a set time. Some instructors may have set times for "live" Web discussions. This means that you may need to "log on" to your online course at a specific time.

UND instructors use many different methods to create an exciting, interactive online learning environment. Live chat sessions, Wikis, blogs, interactive activities and discussion boards are just a few of the techniques used to enhance online learning. Email is also a common mode of communication between instructors and students.

Exam information will be noted on the course syllabus. If proctored (monitored/supervised) exams are required to complete your course, you will need to designate an approved proctor to administer those exams at a location near you.

Yes! UND's online courses and distance learning programs mirror those offered on-campus. In general, as a distance student, you will follow the same curriculum, experience similar lectures, and have comparable deadlines for completing assignments and exams as on-campus students.

Your transcript and diploma will look the same as for a student who graduated from UND by taking traditional, on-campus courses.

The answer depends on your age and/or the number of college credits you may have previously earned.

If you are 25 years of age or older, you are not required to take the ACT or SAT college entrance exams. Or, if you are a transfer student who has earned 24 or more completed, transferable college-level credits from an accredited institution, you do not need to take the ACT or SAT.

However, if you are under the age of 25 or you have fewer than 24 completed, transferable college-level credits, you are required to take the ACT or SAT to be fully admitted to UND.

In general, all college-level credits attempted at institutions accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA), including the American Council on Education (ACE), will be transferred to UND.

There are certain exceptions to this rule. Those exceptions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• remedial or preparatory courses
• credit granted for life experience by other institutions
• institution-based credit by examination
• non-degree continuing education courses

Academic departments will determine if the transferred credits will apply to your specific major and degree program. To graduate from the University of North Dakota, at least 60 credits must be from a 4-year institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), including the American Council on Education (ACE). The last 30 credits must be taken from UND. Depending on your degree program, you may be required to complete specific courses through UND.

For more information about transferring to UND, including Transfer Program Agreements and Course Equivalencies from other institutions, refer to the Transfer Student Information from the UND Office of the Registrar.

1. After you have submitted your application, the UND Registrar's Office will evaluate your transcript to determine which courses will transfer to UND, approximately a 2-week process. In general, all college-level credits attempted at institutions accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), including the American Council on Education (ACE), will be transferred to UND. The academic department for your major will determine if the transferred credits will apply to your specific degree program.
2. After the UND Registrar's Office completes the evaluation and you have been officially admitted to the University, a credit summary will be sent to you with your admissions packet. This summary includes the credits that transferred, the institution of origin, and your transfer GPA. All of your previous undergraduate work will be recorded as semester credits (converted from quarter or other systems as necessary) on your permanent, official transcript.
3. Once you have received your admissions packet, you will need to contact your advisor within your academic department to determine how your transferred credits will apply to your degree program at UND. Please note that it may take 2 to 4 weeks for the academic department to review your transcripts, so plan accordingly.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some courses that are accepted by UND may not satisfy the specific requirements for your degree program.

For more information about transferring to UND, including Transfer Program Agreements and Course Equivalencies from other institutions, refer to the Transfer Student Information from the UND Office of the Registrar.

Yes. Semester-based, online courses are eligible for most federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.

Semester-based, online courses are NOT eligible for most tuition waiver programs at the University of North Dakota (i.e., Cultural Diversity, International, Graduate), except as required by statute.

In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be:

• fully admitted in a degree or approved graduate certificate program
• registered for at least 6 credits in each term you apply the aid towards

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only application UND requires to determine eligibility for all federal and state financial aid. Refer to the UND Student Financial Aid Office for more information.

After you are admitted to UND (full admission or non-degree seeking), you will receive specific information about how and when you can register for courses. In general, registration for courses opens:

Fall Semester – Early April

Spring Semester – Early November

Summer Semester – Early April

Yes! We know that you will have different needs as a distance student, so we work hard to provide you the support services you need, such as:

• Admissions
• American Indian Student Services
• Bookstore
• Career Services
• Center for Student Involvement and Leadership
• Course/Program Catalog
• Disability Services
• Financial Aid
• International Programs
• Multicultural Programs & Services
• Online Library Services
• Online Tutoring
• Personal Counseling
• Registration
• Schedule of Classes
• Student Accounts
• Student Activities
• Tech Support
• TRIO Programs
• UND Email Account
• Veteran Services