Recognized as a top public regional college in the Midwest and one of America's "Best Colleges" for 28 consecutive years by U.S. News, VCSU offers more than 65 undergraduate programs in art, business, communication arts, computer systems and software engineering, education, kinesiology and human performance, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, social science, and technology education. Online Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), and Master of Science in Business Information Systems programs are also available. Founded in 1890 as a teacher's college, VCSU has expanded its academic offerings but remains true to its heritage and maintains an outstanding reputation for producing some of the finest K-12 educators in the region. More than 1500 alumni work as teachers or administrators in North Dakota schools, with hundreds more alumni working as teachers across the country. VCSU enhances the learning experience by providing full-time students with access to their own laptop, advanced multimedia technology, high-speed wireless networking, and classrooms equipped with the latest educational technology. A student-faculty ratio of 11:1 gives students one-to-one access to faculty in ways that are impossible at other universities. The 55-acre campus is bordered on the south by a forested hillside and on the north by the Sheyenne River. Campus architecture features a graceful blend of historic and modern buildings - including a new Center for the Arts in 2022, a completely renovated School of Education in 2025, and a new athletic facility scheduled for completion in 2026. The central campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District, and BuzzFeed previously named VCSU the most beautiful college campus in North Dakota. The university is located in Valley City, N.D., nestled in the Sheyenne River Valley in the southeastern part of the state. Valley City has a population of approximately 6,500 and is about 45 minutes from Fargo on Interstate 94, making the campus easily accessible. Valley City has previously been named Expedia's "Most Beautiful Town" in North Dakota. Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, VCSU is one of 11 institutions in the North Dakota University System (NDUS).
