The National Science Foundation ranks NDSU at No. 40 by comparing research and development spending at 572 universities.

In fiscal year 2009, the U.S. National Science Foundation classified some of NDSU's research projects as TOP100, including agricultural sciences, social sciences, physics and chemistry. Through the comparison of research expenditures in fiscal year 2009, NDSU ranked 124th among 697 universities.

(Research spending in 2009 was $113.2 million.) In a ranking of "Top Towns for College Employment," Forbes ranked NDSU and Fargo at No. 5.

The article points out that university scientific research is conducive to cultivating a huge business atmosphere, providing a highly educated workforce and innovation centers.

The Carnegie Foundation for Higher Education characterized NDSU as a "Research University/Very High Research Activity", which means that NDSU has entered the list of the top 108 universities in the United States.