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Bismarck State College breaks enrollment record with highest student count in school history

Published: Feb 11 2025
Bismarck State College breaks enrollment record with highest student count in school history - Photo
Bismarck State College (BSC) has reached a historic milestone, achieving the highest enrollment in its 85-year history. With 4,445 students enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, BSC has surpassed its previous record of 4,392 students, set in the fall of 2011. This spring semester has 239 more students enrolled than the fall semester and marks the sixth consecutive semester of enrollment growth. Additionally, BSC has experienced a 20% increase in full-time students over the past two years, a testament to the college’s expanding academic offerings, industry partnerships and commitment to workforce readiness.
 
“This record-breaking enrollment reflects BSC’s commitment to student success and workforce-driven education,” said President Brent Sanford. “Our students recognize the value of an education that leads directly to careers and our partnerships with business and industry make that happen.”
 
In the past two years, the surge in BSC enrollment has been driven by a combination of factors, including the addition of 35 new degree programs in high-demand fields such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing and automation, cybersecurity, and agriculture. Currently, BSC offers seven bachelor’s degrees, two more pending Higher Learning Commission approval, and numerous associate and transfer degrees, and certificate program degrees, all designed to prepare students for immediate employment. BSC has also focused on increasing services and flexibility for adult learners and non-traditional students, offering re-skilling and up-skilling pathways that align with emerging career fields.
 
“BSC’s dedication to workforce development is a key factor in our sustained growth. The focus on experiential, hands-on learning ensures graduates are prepared to enter the workforce immediately—often securing jobs before they even complete their degrees,” Sanford says.
 
Athletics has also played a crucial role in increasing enrollments. BSC’s transition from National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) competition has generated excitement and expanded opportunities for student-athletes. Over the past few years, the college has added men’s and women’s rodeo, men's and women's track and field and men’s wrestling. Mystics women’s wrestlers will begin competing in the fall of 2025. These additions, combined with more than $1 million in annual academic scholarship support from the BSC Foundation, have made the college an increasingly attractive option for both traditional and non-traditional students.
 
Looking ahead, the opening of two new campus facilities on the BSC campus prepares the college for even greater expansion in programs and enrollment. In January 2025, BSC completed construction on its Advanced Technology Center, the region’s only polytechnic education facility. It features state-of-the-art project-based learning spaces, hands-on, collaborative environments and a live event center. Additionally, the BSC Bavendick Center, an 80,000-square-foot athletic facility, is now under construction and will become the new home for collegiate sports, recreation, and campus events in Spring 2026. This facility will further enhance student life and athletic opportunities.
 
BSC’s legacy of growth and innovation dates back to its founding in 1939 as Bismarck Junior College, established in response to the local community’s need for a higher education institution. The first classes were held on the third floor of Bismarck High School, with 107 students. Since then, the college has continually evolved to meet the demands of the modern workforce. In 2018, the ND State Board of Higher Education directed BSC to expand its mission to become a polytechnic institution and on Oct. 1, 2020, BSC officially began functioning as North Dakota’s only polytechnic institution. This designation has further strengthened its emphasis on career-driven education, industry collaboration, and degrees and stackable credentials that provide clear pathways from high school to high-demand careers.