The University of North Dakota (also known as UND or North Dakota) is a public research university located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. UND was originally founded as a flagship university with a strong liberal arts foundation, but has grown into a prominent scientific research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity, and is considered one of the top academic and research institutions in the northern Midwest. UND is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and is widely regarded as the top university in the American Northe