For several years, the United States has been experiencing a physician shortage, and North Dakota is no exception. The problem is especially serious in rural areas, where access to medical centers can be more limited and recruiting physicians can be difficult.
Recent federal shortage-area data show that North Dakota still has significant primary care gaps. As of March 31, 2026, HRSA listed 94 primary care Health Professional Shortage Area designations in North Dakota, with 36.77% of need met in those designated areas. Because of this, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota, the only medical school in the state, has developed programs and incentives to help address the shortage and encourage students to choose rural health careers.
Now, let’s look at the most important aspects of this medical school to help you decide if it is the right institution for your medical aspirations.
University of North Dakota
With more than a century of educational experience in the medical field, the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences was founded in 1905. As the only medical school in the state, it plays an important role in North Dakota’s physician workforce; UND reports that two out of every three family physicians in North Dakota received their medical degree from UND.
This medical school in North Dakota has a main campus in Grand Forks and campus offices in Bismarck, Fargo, and Minot. It also has a Center for Rural Health, which is North Dakota’s federally designated State Office of Rural Health. UND also offers RuralMed, a state-sponsored program that pays tuition for accepted students in return for full-time practice in rural North Dakota after residency.
The M.D. curriculum is generally completed in four years and is divided into three phases. Phase 1 lasts 20 months in Grand Forks and focuses on basic sciences and early clinical skills training.
Phase 2 lasts 14 months and moves students into clerkships at Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, or rural North Dakota sites. Students rotate through seven core specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and neurology. Additional requirements include two 2-week electives, a clinical epidemiology course and research project, an OSCE, a Step 1 preparation course, and USMLE Step 1.
Phase 3 lasts 12.5 months and focuses on electives, acting internships, and residency preparation. Students complete 28 weeks of electives and acting internships, one UND-based acting internship, Step 2 preparation and USMLE Step 2, a transition to residency course, and a patient safety and quality improvement course.
Along with the M.D. degree program, UND offers other professional degrees in health sciences, including medical laboratory science, sports medicine and athletic training, public health, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
If you want to apply to this medical school in North Dakota, applications are done through AMCAS. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before starting medical school, take the MCAT, submit a secondary application and fee, and provide letters of recommendation through AMCAS. UND expects a minimum cumulative and BCPM GPA of 3.0 or higher and a minimum MCAT score of 495; successful applicants in recent cycles averaged a cumulative GPA of 3.7 to 3.8 and an MCAT score of 506 to 508. The school also reviews clinical experience, service, research or creative activity, written expression, and work with diverse populations.
UND admits 78 students per cohort. The school gives admissions preference to North Dakota residents and applicants with strong ties to the state. Applicants outside these preferences are considered only if there are not enough qualified applicants who meet the criteria, and UND reports that no applicants outside these preferences have matriculated in the past three cycles.
The Indians Into Medicine (INMED) program supports American Indian and Alaska Native students preparing for health care careers. Current UND admissions guidance says applicants who are enrolled members of federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply and are not required to meet a residency preference, although they must meet the other application requirements. UND also admits a small number of applicants from Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming; its WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program participation applies to certified applicants from Montana and Wyoming.
We hope that this summary was useful and gave you a better idea of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students and USA Study Guide sections!
