North Dakota State University

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related quantitative field required. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 required. Prerequisites include undergraduate data structures and algorithms, calculus (through Calculus II), discrete mathematics, and computer organization or operating systems. GRE General Test: verify current requirement; NDSU has permitted waivers for qualified applicants. International applicants: TOEFL 71 iBT or IELTS 6.0 minimum. Fall application deadline: March 1 (priority); verify current deadlines at ndsu.edu/gradschool.

About This Program

North Dakota State University's MS in Computer Science is offered at a Carnegie R2 research university in Fargo, ND. The program benefits from NDSU's strong interdisciplinary connections with agriculture, health, and engineering, reflected in faculty research in precision agriculture AI, bioinformatics, and data-intensive computing. Fargo's technology sector has grown significantly—Microsoft, Google, and a cluster of fintech and healthcare IT companies maintain operations in the region, providing internship and employment pathways for CS graduates.

Career Outcomes

30-credit MSCS at North Dakota State University in Fargo with thesis or coursework-based project option, strong research programs in AI and bioinformatics, and access to a growing Fargo-Moorhead technology and precision-agriculture employer base.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. ML / AI Engineer
• 3. Data Scientist
• 4. Bioinformatics Analyst
• 5. Systems Engineer

What You'll Learn

• Build a rigorous theoretical and applied CS foundation with required algorithms coverage and elective breadth.
• Specialize through electives in ML/AI, bioinformatics, visualization, database systems, or cybersecurity.
• Complete original research (thesis, 8 credits) or a faculty-supervised capstone project (non-thesis, CS 793).
• Engage with NDSU's interdisciplinary research ecosystem spanning precision agriculture AI, bioinformatics, and high-performance computing.

Curriculum Highlights

The MS in Computer Science at North Dakota State University is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering in Fargo, ND. The program requires 30 credit hours. The thesis track requires 22 credits of coursework plus 8 credits of thesis research (CS 798–799); the non-thesis track requires 30 credits of coursework including a 3-credit capstone project course (CS 793). Required courses typically include graduate algorithms (CS 765 or equivalent) and a breadth requirement spanning theory, systems, and applications. Elective specializations include machine learning, data mining, computer vision, bioinformatics, database systems, distributed systems, software engineering, cybersecurity, and computer graphics. Faculty research strengths include precision agriculture AI, bioinformatics, visualization, and high-performance computing. Catalog: catalog.ndsu.edu.

Top Employers

Microsoft Fargo campus, Google (data center presence), Sanford Health IT, Banner Health, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, regional fintech firms; verify current employer engagement through NDSU Career and Advising Center.

Admissions

Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related quantitative field required. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 required. Prerequisites include undergraduate data structures and algorithms, calculus (through Calculus II), discrete mathematics, and computer organization or operating systems. GRE General Test: verify current requirement; NDSU has permitted waivers for qualified applicants. International applicants: TOEFL 71 iBT or IELTS 6.0 minimum. Fall application deadline: March 1 (priority); verify current deadlines at ndsu.edu/gradschool.

Application Materials

• Official Transcripts: Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: Three required
• CV/Resume: Required
• GRE General: Verify current policy with CS department
• English Proficiency: TOEFL 71+ iBT or IELTS 6.0+ for international applicants
• Application: Via NDSU Graduate School portal

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's in CS or related quantitative field; minimum 3.0 GPA
• Prerequisites: Data structures, algorithms, calculus, discrete math
• GRE/GMAT: Verify current policy
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international applicants (TOEFL 71+ iBT)