Tri-College University

Fargo-Moorhead is fortunate to have several institutions of higher education within its boundaries. The Tri-College University (TCU) program is a partnership between Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), North Dakota State University (NDSU), Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State), and North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). Each of these schools has outstanding departments, and students from these schools are able to take advantage of each school’s respective strengths under this program. TCU also provides several services and programs of interest to Concordia students.

Students regularly make use of the student exchange for courses in such fields as ROTC, special education and East Asian languages.

Student Exchange: Full-time Concordia students (those enrolled in at least 12 credits at Concordia) may take courses at NDSU, MSUM, NDSCS, and M State during fall and spring semester at no additional charge, but are subject to the following limitations:

1. a student may take up to two courses per semester
2. a student may not take a course also offered at Concordia College, and
3. an overload charge is assessed if total semester credits in a student’s load are greater than 17 credits

Grades and credits received for such courses are applied to a student’s Concordia grade point average and graduation requirements. The appropriate department or program chair must approve substitution of TCU courses in a Concordia major. Students should see the Office of the Registrar for information on available courses and further details about TCU registration.

Tri-College Minors: Students may pursue a minor through Tri-College but only in programs not available on a student’s home campus. This option makes it possible to combine majors at Concordia with complementary minors on another campus. Tri-College institutions recognize minors earned through the TCU course exchange and award the minors in consultation with the host campus when other degree requirements are completed. Tri-College minors are also noted on student transcripts.  

Library Services: Concordia students have direct access to the local collections at Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State University, M State, and North Dakota State College of Science through the Tri-College Library Consortium, providing library resources of more than two million in combined books, journals, and media holdings representing all academic disciplines. Materials are delivered between libraries daily.

Bus Service: Community bus service is provided between campuses on a regular weekday schedule during the academic year.

Parking: Concordia students enrolled in TCU who park at any of the other campuses must display their Concordia parking permit and use the designated parking lots at each campus.