The University of North Dakota at Grand Forks is one of the largest and most diversified universities in the Upper Midwest. Enrolling more than 13,000 students, it has long been characterized by a solid foundation in the liberal arts, a comprehensive array of colleges and schools (including aviation, law and medicine), a manageable size, high-quality students and faculty, a varied curriculum, rich cultural resources, and an outstanding record of alumni support.

Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a "doctoral/research-intensive" institution, UND is among the small group of nationally important universities whose missions extend beyond undergraduate instruction to include graduate education, research, scholarship and creative activity, and public service.