Dickinson State University is a regional four year institution within the North Dakota University System. The school’s mission is to provide high quality, accessible programs; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide service relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of the state of North Dakota.

Dickinson State Normal School was established in 1916 by a constitutional amendment approved by North Dakotan voters. Classes began in 1918 with a two-year program designed to train elementary and secondary school teachers. Over 100 students attended those first classes, which were held at Dickinson High School—the newly established university had not yet begun construction. May Hall, the first building on campus, was completed in 1924. In 1931, four-year degrees were offered for the first time under the school’s new name: Dickinson State Teachers College. In recognition of the institution’s broadened curriculum, Dickinson State Teachers College became Dickinson State College in 1963. University status was granted to the school in 1987. Dickinson State University began to offer baccalaureate programs in cooperation with NDUS regional associate degree institutions in 1998; Bismarck State College was the first site established. In the fall of 2003, DSU began to offer online courses, making it possible for the institution to extend their programs globally. Today, the university offers 40 bachelor’s degree programs, four associate degree programs, three certificate of completion programs, and two certificate programs. Courses are offered in Dickinson, the state capitol of Bismarck, Williston and online.

The historic DSU campus is situated on a hilltop in the city of Dickinson, North Dakota, giving it the nickname “College on the Hill.” Located near the rugged Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Dickinson offers an array of amenities and recreational opportunities. Students can hike, camp, fish and experience the wide-open skies and beauty of western North Dakota.