MSU President's Newspaper Column
October 18, 2025
For Mayville State students, experiences go beyond the classroom and add real value to education
Mayville State University offers high quality education, legendary personal service, and much more for an outstanding value. At Mayville State, students have opportunities to pursue a wide range of interesting and valuable academic offerings, and they receive the attention and direction they expect and deserve from their instructors. The university is consistently recognized as an exceptional institution of higher education by external evaluators, including U.S. News and World Report and Princeton Review, who rank institutions in a variety of areas.
Of the 1,215 students enrolled at Mayville State University during the fall semester of 2025, 781 are from North Dakota. Mayville State graduates stay in North Dakota. Surveys of recent Mayville State graduates consistently show that native North Dakotans choose to stay in the state to work, live, and further their education. A large percentage of the out-of-state students who graduate from Mayville State choose to stay in North Dakota as well.
At Mayville State, we’re focused on helping North Dakota solve critical shortages in the workforce. Our impact is growing, as reflected in the increase in the number of graduates. In academic year 2018, Mayville State graduated 163 students. That number grew to 250 graduates in academic year 2025.
With workforce needs in mind, we’re adding two new programs that meet high-need areas in the fall of 2026. (These programs are awaiting Higher Learning Commission approval.) The new programs are a pre-licensure BSN program which will allow students to attain the registered nursing license and BSN directly from Mayville State. Mayville State’s new Master of Science in Leadership program will provide our region with graduates who have high demand skill sets, including management operations, communication, and leadership. The program will be available in a fully online format to serve our entire region, including those currently working in business and industry.
Beyond the classroom, Mayville State students can get involved with clubs and organizations that provide invaluable leadership experience. In addition, they have the unique opportunity to be involved with scientific research projects that provide meaningful experiences and impactful data for society. Engaged hands-on learning is an important quality of the Mayville State Experience.
The cost to attend Mayville State University is affordable. Tuition for a North Dakota resident is $6,875 per year. Financial aid is available, and scholarships help to ease the financial burden and allow students more time to concentrate on their studies. Keeping student loan debt low for students is a priority at Mayville State, and having the ability to offer scholarships plays a major role in making this possible. Many students work full- and part-time to help pay their tuition and living expenses.
All Mayville State students find helpful and supportive faculty and staff who are willing and able to help. “The School of Personal Service” is not only our institutional motto and words on a page. The concept of personal service is brought to life by employees and students alike. People model and learn the values and power skills that are so important to success as an added component of earning a college education. These standards begin on the campus and go beyond as students graduate and become leaders in their careers and communities. Countless Mayville State graduates have made a big difference for others and many have received local, regional, and national recognition for their efforts.
Mayville State seeks to provide outstanding academic experiences and to develop the whole student, providing an immersive experience both in and out of the classroom. The importance of civic values such as honoring the flag, opening doors for others, and having respect for one another are impressed upon students. The seven pillars of this experience include intellectual development; personal growth; volunteerism; community involvement; character development; social, emotional, and personal development; and leadership development.
Mayville State University is a unique and special place where civic values and the seven pillars of the Mayville State Experience form the basis for living and learning. It fills my cup to know the work that happens at our university is a pebble that starts a ripple effect of making the world a better place. I extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the amazing faculty and staff at Mayville State. Your efforts truly make a difference in the lives of our students - and in the world around us.