In 1883, the University of North Dakota was founded in Grand Forks by the Dakota Territorial Assembly. Today the public university enrolls over 12,000 students, and is the oldest and largest school in the state of North Dakota. It is also a part of the North Dakota University System.

The University of North Dakota is a national leader in rural and family health and is home to the only medical school in the state and the Center for Rural Health. The University is also known for strong graduate programs in forensics, biology, and health sciences.