How to apply to Biology at North Dakota State University: the Biological Sciences major, with tracks such as biomedical science and ecology and conservation, in the College of Arts and Sciences, plus the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, and admission and prerequisite requirements for domestic, international (including China) and transfer applicants

North Dakota State University (NDSU) is in Fargo, North Dakota. Undergraduate biology is mainly taught by the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences; the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major is in the same college’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This guide summarizes the official requirements for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants (including from China) and transfer students. One caveat up front: the required courses, total credits, prerequisite sequence and progression conditions of each major are in the university’s third-party catalog system, which is not covered here, so they are marked “not published on the cited pages”; check the official site. Chemistry is in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and covered separately; mathematics, physics, engineering and computer science are not covered here. Medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health and other professional degrees are outside this guide; see the official site.

1. Degrees and options

• Undergraduate majors in the Department of Biological Sciences: the department’s majors and programs page lists Biological Sciences (major and minor), Biological Sciences Education (major) and an Accelerated Bachelor and Master of Science. The Biological Sciences program page says the curriculum integrates zoology, botany and specialized tracks “like biomedical science or ecology and conservation”, preparing students for health professions, research and more; the names, number and course requirements of those tracks, the degree type and the details of the education major are not published on the cited pages.
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as a major and minor. The program page describes an interdisciplinary program bridging chemistry, biology and life sciences, with training in biochemistry, botany, microbiology and zoology for careers in sciences, agriculture, medicine or health-related fields; it says most research opportunities start within the first year.
• Microbiology: the program page shows the Microbiology major (with a minor and a certificate) in the Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Biotechnology in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, not in Biological Sciences; it is not covered here, so see the official site.
• Molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, marine biology, zoology and plant science are not listed as separate undergraduate majors (zoology and botany are mentioned as content of the Biological Sciences program).
• What the department says about itself: 23 faculty and more than 40 graduate students; research across molecular and cellular biology, evolution, population biology and ecology; an overarching research emphasis on environmental adaptation, with a focus on biological timing; and discipline-based education research (DBER). The department uses about 20,000 square feet in Stevens Hall, has a vascular plant herbarium, a lichen herbarium and a vertebrate collection, and owns Cassell Woods, a roughly 30-acre natural research site less than five miles from campus.
• Outcomes: the Biological Sciences page lists high-demand occupations (microbiologist, wildlife biologist, scientist, molecular biologist, quality control microbiologist) and a “National Median Salary” of USD 74,100, which the page attributes to Lightcast data (2026) on national job listings requiring five years of experience or less, not to NDSU graduates; the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology page shows USD 72,600. Employment statistics specific to Biological Sciences are not published.
• Labs and capstone requirements: not published on the cited pages. The program page says students can take part in research ranging from cellular metabolism and genetic differences in animal and plant populations to animal behavior and physiology, and broaden their experience through internships, volunteering and student organizations.
• Contact: Department of Biological Sciences, (701) 231-7087, matthew.dryburgh@ndsu.edu (page footer); undergraduate admissions ndsu.admission@ndsu.edu, (701) 231-8643.

2. How admission works: applying to the university or to a major

• The first-year admission page gives university-wide criteria: evaluation by core courses and cumulative GPA (section 4). Whether you name an intended major on the application, whether the biology department has its own admission line or cap, and when and on what conditions you declare or enter a major are not published; contact Admissions (ndsu.admission@ndsu.edu). The department has an undergraduate academic advisors page, which is not covered here.
• The department scholarship page says students are eligible if they have declared a major in the department (one scholarship is open to incoming students; see section 5).
• Moving into a biology major from another NDSU major: not published on the cited pages.

3. Prerequisites and preparation

• High school courses: the university-wide 14 core classes are in section 4 (4 years of English, 3 of math, 3 of lab science, 3 of social science and so on). The biology department’s own expectations for high school biology, chemistry and math are not published on the cited pages.
• Testing and placement: NDSU does not require ACT/SAT scores but still uses scores for math and English course placement.
• AP / IB credit toward required biology courses: not published on the cited pages; ask Admissions or the Registrar.
• Preparation for health professions: the department page links to the university’s Pre-Health Professional Advising; the details are outside this guide.
• Required courses and the first-year plan: these are in the university catalog and curriculum guides, not published on the cited pages; check the official site.

4. Dates and materials

• How to apply: submit the Application for Admission through the university’s online application and report high school coursework and GPA; if transcripts or other documents are needed, the university will notify you. The application fee for domestic applicants is not printed on the pages cited; check the application system.
• Deadlines (2027): the same for first-year and transfer applicants: spring 2027 December 1, summer July 1, and fall 2027 August 1; decisions are typically mailed 2–3 weeks after all materials are received.
• How applicants are evaluated: first-year students are evaluated on core courses and cumulative GPA; a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale) or higher is recommended, with 14 core classes: 4 years of English, 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or above), 3 years of laboratory science, 3 years of social science, and 1 year from a core area or world language (including foreign languages, Native American languages or American Sign Language). Those below the guideline are still considered on their record; students not offered direct admission may be eligible for the NDSU-NDSCS Pathway Program.
• Testing: NDSU is test-optional and does not require ACT/SAT scores; applicants may send them voluntarily, and scores are still considered for math and English course placement.
• GED: a GED transcript is accepted in lieu of a high school transcript, with a minimum passing score of 165 in all subject areas for tests taken in 2014 or later.
• Essays and recommendations: not mentioned on the first-year page; not published.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Costs (2026-27 estimate, full-time, 13+ credits per semester, fall and spring): North Dakota residents pay USD 10,460 base tuition, plus meal plan USD 5,762, housing USD 5,164 and student fees USD 1,721, for an estimated total of USD 23,107; Minnesota residents USD 11,715 tuition (total USD 24,362); residents of Montana, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Manitoba and Saskatchewan USD 12,553 (total USD 25,200); other U.S. state residents (including MSEP and WUE states) USD 15,690 (total USD 28,337). Engineering, business and some other programs have differential tuition; chemistry and biology are not among the differential programs listed on the page. Part-time students pay per credit (1–12 credits; North Dakota residents USD 430.47 tuition plus USD 71.70 fees per credit).
• Scholarships (2027-28): admitted first-year and transfer students who meet the academic criteria and transcript deadlines are guaranteed a scholarship. First-year guaranteed minimums by final high school GPA: 3.98–4.00 (or 3.0+ with ACT 30+ / SAT 1370+) USD 3,000 a year; 3.80–3.97 USD 2,000; 3.65–3.79 USD 1,500; 3.0–3.64 USD 1,000, for up to four years. The scholarship application opens October 1; round one is due December 1 (offers by December 31, accept by January 31); round two February 1; later applications are reviewed while funds remain; final transcripts must reach NDSU by July 1. The page also lists National Merit Finalist, Harry D. McGovern (declared STEM-related field, up to full base tuition) and Honors College (up to USD 25,000, 3.0+ GPA and ACT 30+ / SAT 1370+) scholarships, among others.
• Departmental support: the Department of Biological Sciences says it offers many merit-based scholarships, separate from NDSU financial aid and not need-based, applied for through the university scholarship portal by students who have declared a department major. Undergraduate awards listed include the Bleier International Studies Scholarship (juniors and seniors enrolled in or signed up for an international education experience), the J. Frank Cassel Scholarship (a research award with research expenses and a personal stipend for juniors and seniors), the Gary K. Clambey Scholarship, the G. Arthur Larson Scholarship (pre-medicine), the Ries and Startz Family Scholarship, the Dr. Velva E. Rudd Scholarship, the O.A. Stevens Memorial Scholarship and the Warren C. Whitman Outstanding Botany Student Award. The NDSU HERD S-STEM Scholarship is for incoming or freshman/sophomore Biological Science students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, refugees or permanent residents with financial need and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Amounts and this year’s due dates are not published on the page.
• Any priority or guaranteed admission for North Dakota residents: the page only describes evaluation by core courses and GPA; no residency preference is published.

6. International applicants

• Admission requirements: first-year applicants submit the online application with a USD 35 fee (no waivers; due each term, even if you defer) and need a U.S.-equivalent GPA of 2.75 or higher, with secondary transcripts evaluated in-house; transfer applicants need a U.S.-equivalent GPA of 2.00 or higher, and post-secondary work outside the U.S. needs an external course-by-course evaluation by a NACES member (WES, ECE or SpanTran, for example).
• English (any one; scores valid for two years and sent directly by the testing agency): TOEFL 4.0 (the page says 71 iBT if the test was taken before January 21, 2026); IELTS 6.0 overall; Duolingo 105; PTE Academic 50; ACT English 18; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480. Code 6474 for TOEFL and SAT; ACT code 3202. Exemptions: citizens of listed countries (for example Australia, Canada except Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Nigeria); two years of good-standing study at a post-secondary institution in a listed country; two years at a U.S. high school or regionally accredited U.S. college; English Composition 1 and 2 with grades of B or higher if there is less than two years of college work; or a U.S. GED taken in English.
• Transcripts: the international admission page says first-year applicants upload unofficial transcripts with the application and mail official documents after acceptance; the international FAQ says first-year applicants must have their official secondary transcript mailed in a sealed envelope (a stamped copy in a sealed envelope if the original cannot be mailed). The two differ; follow the instructions NDSU sends after admission. A passport biography page is also uploaded.
• Deadlines: rolling admission. The international admission page gives “recommended” deadlines of May 15 for fall 2026 (August start) and November 1 for spring 2027 (January start); the international FAQ says fall applications are due June 1 and spring November 1, with no summer admission. A fall 2027 international date is not printed; confirm with the international admissions office (ndsu.intl.admissions@ndsu.edu).
• Costs (international cost page, undergraduate): tuition and fees USD 20,025, housing USD 4,885, meal plan USD 5,762, books and supplies USD 1,175, ISS support fee USD 250 and health insurance USD 2,190, for USD 34,287 (engineering tuition and fees USD 21,862, total USD 36,124); USD 753.32 tuition plus USD 71.70 fees per credit, capped after 13 credits. The undergraduate cost-estimate page gives a different total for international (F and J visa) full-time students, USD 30,952 (tuition USD 18,305, without insurance or books); the two pages use different bases, so check with NDSU and the I-20 requirements.
• Scholarships: new first-year and transfer international undergraduates are automatically considered at admission by U.S.-equivalent GPA: 3.5–4.0 USD 12,000 in total (USD 1,500 a semester), 3.0–3.49 USD 8,000 (USD 1,000 a semester), for up to eight semesters, if admitted by July 1 (fall) or January 1 (spring); the page says NDSU does not offer full scholarships. To get an I-20 you still show financial documents for the full amount, excluding any scholarship.
• After admission: click “Reply to Offer” on the admission letter to confirm enrollment, then complete the Financial Responsibility Form; an international student advisor reviews it for the I-20. The format requirements for financial documents are on a separate page not covered here.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: how Gaokao results are used is not published; ask the international admissions office.
• Transcripts and Huikao records: the site asks for secondary transcripts (uploaded, then official copies after acceptance) and external evaluation for non-U.S. university coursework; it does not mention Chinese Huikao records separately.
• China-specific information: the pages cited have no China country page or interview requirement; not published.
• English: China is not on the exemption-by-country list, so one of the listed English proofs (or another exemption) is needed.

8. Costs and departmental support

• Tuition and university scholarships are above; department scholarships are in section 5.
• Summer research (REU): the department page lists two summer programs, CiDER (Collaborations in Discipline-based Education Research) and Pollination Nation (development and health of agriculturally beneficial bee pollinators), both full-time, hands-on research in Fargo; places, stipends and application dates are not published on the cited pages.
• High-impact programs: Learning Assistants (undergraduates who support faculty and peers in large-enrollment courses) and the Peer Mentor Program.
• Internships: the department has an internship opportunities page, which is not covered here; assistantships and the amount of each scholarship are not published.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts as a transfer: someone who has completed high school and has attended or is attending another college.
• Admission criteria: NDSU considers cumulative college GPA, college courses attempted and completed, and, if fewer than 24 transferable credits are complete, high school information. With 24 or more transferable credits: a 2.0 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) from all post-secondary institutions; with fewer than 24: the same 2.0 plus high school coursework, grades and GPA. Official transcripts are required from every college attended, and from high school if fewer than 24 semester credits are complete.
• Deadlines: the same as for first-year applicants: spring 2027 December 1, summer July 1, fall 2027 August 1.
• Scholarships: transfer students with at least 12 transferable credits who are admitted by August 1 (fall) or January 1 (spring) and are working toward a first bachelor’s degree are guaranteed USD 2,000 (GPA 3.5–4.0) or USD 1,000 (GPA 3.0–3.49), each renewable for one more year; Phi Theta Kappa members have a separate scholarship.
• Transfer credit: the university has transfer course databases, curriculum guides and a transfer policy page (the policy page is in the catalog system, not covered here).
• Entry to biology: the pages cited do not state a GPA or course requirement for entering a biology major; university-wide transfer criteria are above, and you can contact the department and Admissions or use the transfer course databases to see how courses transfer.
• International transfers: GPA 2.0 or higher; coursework outside the U.S. needs an external evaluation by a NACES member; English requirements are as above.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply online by August 1 for fall 2027; recommended cumulative GPA 2.75 and the 14 core classes; test-optional
• Scholarship application opens October 1, round one due December 1; final transcripts to NDSU by July 1
• ask the biology department about scholarships and summer research (CiDER, Pollination Nation); check this year’s due dates

International applicants (including China):

• USD 35 application fee; U.S.-equivalent GPA of 2.75 or higher; one English proof such as TOEFL, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105 (China is not on the exemption list)
• Confirm the fall 2027 international deadline and the official-transcript instructions with the international admissions office
• A converted GPA of 3.0 or higher is automatically considered for USD 8,000–12,000; the I-20 still needs full financial documentation
• Ask admissions how Gaokao results are used; ask the biology department how the tracks differ; the S-STEM scholarship requires U.S. status, so ask the department about the others

Transfer students:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; official transcripts from every college attended; ask the biology department about the course sequence after transfer

Sources: North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences; Biological Sciences program; Majors and programs; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program; Microbiology program; Department scholarships; Department research; Summer research (REU); College of Arts and Sciences departments; First-year admission; Transfer admission; Costs; Scholarships; International admission; International costs; International scholarships; International FAQ. Deadlines are for 2027 entry; the cost page is 2026-27, the scholarship page 2027-28, and the department scholarship tables show last year’s due dates. Check NDSU’s website for the latest.