Private School Review - Established 2003
Anne Carlsen Center Top 13 · Highest % Students of Color (ND)
St. Joseph Catholic Montessori School Top 7 · Lowest Tuition (ND)
St. Michael's School Top 3 · Lowest Tuition (ND)

Best North Dakota Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 59 private schools serving 11,847 students in North Dakota, versus 532 public schools serving 122,978 students (9% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $6,025 for elementary schools and $9,883 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
85% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 59
  • # Students Served: 11,847
  • Average Tuition: $6,820
  • Acceptance Rate: 95%
  • Average Class Size: 13 students
  • % Students of Color: 14%
  • View North Dakota School Trends

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 59
  • # Students Served: 11,847
  • Average Tuition: $6,820
  • Acceptance Rate: 95%
  • Average Class Size: 13 students
  • % Students of Color: 14%
  • View North Dakota School Trends

Top Ranked North Dakota Private Schools (2026)

Oak Grove Lutheran School Photo
Oak Grove Lutheran School
Gr: PK-12 | 747 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Sports: 18 | Extracurriculars: 28
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA)
100 South Terrace N
Fargo, ND 58102
(701) 373-7114
View Profile
Anne Carlsen Center Photo
Anne Carlsen Center
Gr: K-12 | 56 students
Avg. class size: 6 students
Special Education School (Christian)
701 3rd St Nw
Jamestown, ND 58401
(701) 320-7995
View Profile
Grand Forks Montessori Academy Photo
Grand Forks Montessori Academy
Gr: NS-3 | 37 students
Montessori School
1420 24th Ave S.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
(701) 757-2224
View Profile
St. Joseph Catholic Montessori School Photo
St. Joseph Catholic Montessori School
Gr: PK-12
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 5
Montessori School (Catholic)
410 Collins Ave
Mandan, ND 58554
(701) 663-9563
View Profile
St. Michael's School Photo
St. Michael's School
Gr: PK-5 | 180 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Extracurriculars: 3
Catholic
504 5th Ave N
Grand Forks, ND 58203
(701) 772-1822
View Profile
Williston Trinity Christian School Photo
Williston Trinity Christian School
Gr: NS-12 | 318 students
Avg. class size: 17 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 9
Christian
2419 9th Ave W
Williston, ND 58801
(701) 774-9056
(2)
View Profile
Map of Bishop Ryan Catholic School
Bishop Ryan Catholic School
Gr: PK-12 | 412 students
Sports: 10
Catholic
316 11th Ave NW
Minot, ND 58703
(701) 838-3355
View Profile
Map of Brentwood Adventist Christian School
Brentwood Adventist Christian School
Gr: 1-8 | 16 students
Seventh Day Adventist
9111 Wentworth Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 258-1579
View Profile
Map of Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit School
Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit School
Gr: PK-5 | 321 students
Catholic
508 Raymond St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 223-5484
View Profile
Map of Hope Christian Academy
Hope Christian Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 127 students
2891 5th Ave W
Dickinson, ND 58601
(701) 225-3919
View Profile

North Dakota Private School Trends (10-Year)

59
Private Schools
+13.5% (+7 schools) 10-yr
11,847
Students
+46.8% (+3,777 students) 10-yr
$6,820
Avg. Tuition
+170.1% (+$4,295) 10-yr
13
Avg. Class Size
14%
Students of Color
+40.0% (+4.0 pp) 10-yr
13:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (ND)
US
# Schools
59 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(ND) Total Schools
202560
202460
202358
202259
202160
202060
201956
201857
201753
201653
201552
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# Students
11,847 Students
5,689,398 Students

View Largest North Dakota Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
2025204179
2024204172
2023161174
2022165185
2021162180
2020161171
2019156175
2018155172
2017159180
2016157178
2015155167
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% Average Students of Color
14%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202514%34%
202414%34%
202318%33%
202213%33%
202113%32%
202013%32%
201913%31%
201813%31%
201710%32%
201610%32%
201510%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeNorth Dakota
Nursey51
Pre-K1,938
Kind1,148
11,092
21,040
3996
4920
5648
6568
7469
8509
9696
10582
11532
12534
Not Listed124
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Academics
# Teachers
933 Teachers
508,485 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202513:111:1
202413:111:1
202313:111:1
202213:111:1
202113:111:1
202012:112:1
201914:112:1
201814:112:1
201714:112:1
201613:112:1
201513:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
44%
55%

View North Dakota Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202544%55%
202436%54%
202336%54%
202235%54%
202135%54%
20202%54%
20192%53%
20182%53%
20172%53%
20162%52%
20152%52%
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Average Class Size
13 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20251315
20241315
20231415
20221315
20211315
20201315
20191315
20181315
20171315
20161315
20151315
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Average Number of AP Courses
3 courses
13 courses

View North Dakota Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
2025713
2024312
2023311
2022311
2021311
2020311
2019311
2018311
2017310
2016410
2015310
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Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
26

View Average Private School ACT Scores in North Dakota

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20252526
20242326
20232326
20222326
20212326
20202325
20192325
20182325
20172325
20162525
20152525
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$6,820
$14,950

View North Dakota Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
2025$7,956$15,012
2024$6,143$13,254
2023$5,050$12,626
2022$5,092$12,187
2021$5,092$11,800
2020$5,360$11,512
2019$5,170$11,293
2018$5,170$11,017
2017$5,170$10,708
2016$2,567$10,356
2015$2,525$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202535%34%
202432%34%
202332%34%
202232%33%
202132%33%
202032%32%
201932%31%
201832%30%
201732%30%
201632%29%
201532%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,750
$7,228

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
2025$1,750$7,073
2024$1,000$6,930
2023$1,000$6,469
2022$1,000$6,289
2021$1,000$6,055
2020$1,000$5,921
2019$1,000$5,795
2018$1,000$5,456
2017$1,000$5,319
2016$1,000$5,105
2015$1,000$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
95%
82%

View Most Selective Private Schools in North Dakota

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202583%81%
202499%85%
202399%85%
202299%85%
202199%85%
202099%85%
201999%85%
201899%85%
201799%85%
201690%85%
201585%85%
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Students by Ethnicity
0.48
0.65

View North Dakota Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20250.480.65
20240.480.65
20230.540.65
20220.510.64
20210.500.64
20200.500.64
20190.510.63
20180.510.63
20170.470.61
20160.470.61
20150.460.61
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# American Indian Students
288 Students
29,824 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
1%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20252%1%
20242%1%
20233%1%
20225%2%
20215%1%
20205%1%
20194%1%
20183%2%
20173%1%
20163%1%
20153%1%
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# Asian Students
187 Students
264,899 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20252%5%
20242%5%
20232%5%
20221%4%
20211%4%
20201%4%
20191%4%
20181%4%
20171%4%
20161%4%
20151%4%
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# Hispanic Students
299 Students
506,804 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20253%9%
20243%9%
20233%9%
20222%8%
20212%9%
20202%9%
20193%8%
20183%8%
20172%8%
20162%8%
20152%8%
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# Black Students
302 Students
415,674 Students
% Black Students
3%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
20253%7%
20243%7%
20234%8%
20223%7%
20213%7%
20203%8%
20192%7%
20182%7%
20171%7%
20161%7%
20151%8%
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# White Students
8,228 Students
2,930,451 Students
% White Students
69%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202569%52%
202469%52%
202363%52%
202267%54%
202167%54%
202067%54%
201965%56%
201865%56%
201769%58%
201669%58%
201570%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
36 Students
20,066 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
2,618 Students
1,473,461 Students
% of Others Students
22%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearNorth Dakota (ND) AvgNational
202521%26%
202421%26%
202325%25%
202222%25%
202122%25%
202022%24%
201925%24%
201826%23%
201724%22%
201624%22%
201523%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in North Dakota?
The top-ranked private schools in North Dakota include Bishop Ryan Catholic School, Trinity Elementary North School, and Cathedral Of The Holy Spirit School.
How many private schools are located in North Dakota?
There are 59 private schools are located in North Dakota.
How much do private schools cost in North Dakota?
The average private school tuition in North Dakota is $6,025 for elementary schools and $9,883 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in North Dakota?
Approximately 14% of students in North Dakota private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in North Dakota go to private school?
9% of all K-12 students in North Dakota attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in North Dakota?
85% of private schools in North Dakota are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in North Dakota are often viewed compared to one another?

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