×

North Dakota Lawmakers Dig Into Subsidizing Online College Classes For Out-of-State Students

By Bill Dubensky Nov 13, 2025 | 5:32 AM

Karla Mongeon-Stewart, vice president of finance and operations for the University of North Dakota .(Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

 

(North Dakota Monitor) –  Representatives of North Dakota colleges on Wednesday espoused the value of offering online classes, even to students who may never set foot in the state.

State lawmakers have been trying to assess the value of providing state funding to online programs serving students outside North Dakota and neighboring states.

“We are still highly subsidizing,” Sen. Ron Sorvaag, R-Fargo, chair of the Higher Education Funding Review Committee said of online classes. “We still need to understand, are we getting a bang for the buck?”

A University System presentation said the state is spending about $22 million on online courses for out-of-state students for the most recent two-year budget cycle. That doesn’t include online students from Minnesota, Montana or South Dakota.

Grand Forks Business Leaves with Unpaid Debt to City
(KNOX) - A Grand Forks tech company that owes the city thousands of dollars in unpaid rent and loans is leaving. Thread, previously known as Airtonomy, is leaving the HIVE business incubator after roughly five years. Thrive owes at least $4000 in unp...
Dec 11, 2025
North Dakota Cleared to Eliminate Some Foods from SNAP Eligibility
(North Dakota Monitor) - North Dakotans receiving federal food assistance will not be able to use those benefits to pay for candy, soda and some other foods, after the state implements changes approved by the Trump administration. The U.S. Department...
Dec 11, 2025
City Leaders Discuss Homeless Population During Winter Weather
(KNOX) - City leaders are discussing an apparent shift in the pattern of where homeless people dwell during the winter months. Leaders went over the issue at a meeting of several entities Wednesday, among them law enforcement and non-profit organizat...
Dec 11, 2025
East Grand Forks Lowers Property Tax Levy Target
(KNOX) - East Grand Forks has lowered it's request for a levy increase for it's 2026 budget. The previous estimated increase was 12%, but an agreement with a union has allowed the city to lower it's request to eight percent. The city council has bee...
Dec 11, 2025
See More

FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!