ND Education leader "Quietly Confident" as Minnesota's North Star Promise Program threatens student enrollment numbers

(WDAY Radio) -- North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott says the state's civic culture and technological advantages allow them to compete against the Minnesota sponsored North Star Promise Scholarship Program passed into law during the 2023 legislative session.

Hagerott, speaking on the competing scholarship program and other systems, said Minnesota has a "Lot of stuff they are working on" in regards to "compensating for some of these COVID things, social issues, legalized marijuana, gambling... Do you want to come to a North Dakota school that builds strong bodies, clear minds, resilient spirit, without marijuana, without sports gambling."

Hagerott says North Dakota continues to compete with Minnesota schools, despite the addition of the North Star Promise Program. However, he did call for state assistance to help colleges compete against the scholarship program.

"Minnesota is using money to compensate, which is a factor... But if you start to look at our civic culture, our campuses that are drug free, and all of the rest, and the programs we offer... I'm quietly confident that our schools on the eastern side will adapt with programs," said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott.

The North Star Promise Scholarship Program, expected to begin in Fall of 2024, allows Minnesota residents who make less than $80,000, or for families who make less than $120,000, to go to college tuition free after other scholarships, grants, and donations were accounted for. North Dakota State University, following the passage of the North Star Promise Program, quickly vowed to offer free tuition for North Dakota and Minnesota residents for families making less than $80,000 a year.