North Dakota benefits for college students

Food assistance: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

North Dakota's name for SNAP, run by North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS). If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

North Dakota's SNAP policy manual (section 204, Student Status, revised 5/16/2025) adds a career and technical education exemption: a student attending a career and technical education program under the Carl D. Perkins Act, designed to be completed in not more than 4 years, counts as an eligible student. Only certain North Dakota colleges and degrees get Perkins funding and this can change year to year, so students should ask their college to confirm. Other exemptions follow the federal rules (working at least 20 hours a week, work study, caring for a young child, single parent full time with a child under 12, receiving TANF, etc.); students who get more than half their daily meals from a meal plan are ineligible.

Apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) · North Dakota's page for students

Health coverage: North Dakota Medicaid (adult coverage: Medicaid Expansion)

North Dakota has expanded Medicaid, so adults with low incomes, students included, can qualify based on income. All your health coverage options →

Apply for North Dakota Medicaid (adult coverage: Medicaid Expansion)

Child care help: Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Going to college or training can count, with limits. Education and training are allowable activities. Allowable post-secondary education is a certificate, associate's degree or bachelor's degree, only if the parent has not already earned a bachelor's degree (no help for graduate school or a second degree after a bachelor's). Required activities like student teaching and internships count, and online classes count. Vocational/trade school, skills training, ESL, basic literacy, high school and GED also count. Paid work study, internships or assistantships count as work.

Apply for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

We found no extra state Lifeline discount on North Dakota's official pages, so the federal discount applies. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline

Taxes

North Dakota has no state Earned Income Tax Credit. The ND Office of State Tax Commissioner takes part in Free File (IRS, states and tax software companies); eligible individuals can use the ND Free File eligibility checker to find a company that will file their North Dakota return for free.

Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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