Metro College Alliance is a partnership of five institutions of higher education: North Dakota State University, Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State College of Science and Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Students at the five schools may benefit from what each school offers individually and cooperatively through the partnership.
Through the Metro College Alliance course exchange, students enrolled at one campus may take courses at the other partner campuses at no extra cost and without going through separate admissions procedures. Metro College Alliance expands discipline offerings and course availability for students beyond their home campus. Tuition is paid only to the home-base campus. Courses not eligible for Metro College Alliance registration are those offered through NDSU’s Division of Distance and Continuing Education, off-campus or weekend courses offered through MSUM, most workshops, independent study courses at Concordia College and private music instruction at Concordia.
The following courses are not eligible for Metro College Alliance registration at NDSCS:
| Selective Program | Courses |
| Dental Assisting | All DAST courses |
| Dental Hygiene | All DHYG courses |
| Practical Nursing | All NURS courses |
| Registered Nursing | All NURS courses |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | All OTA courses, except OTA 101 |
| John Deere Technology | All JDAT courses |
| Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician | All DCAT courses |
| Diesel Technology - Case IH | All CIH courses |
| Diesel Technology - Komatsu | All KMTS courses |
| Paramedic (EMT) Technology | All EMS courses |
| Other Programs | Courses |
| Any subject | Cooperative Education, Internship, Practicum or Seminar |
| Music | All courses, except MUSC 100 & MUSC 101 |
| HPER | HPER 220 and all athletic participation classes |
Students enrolling in classes that require special fees (lab fees, lessons, supplies, etc.) beyond the home-campus fees assessed at the time of registration will be responsible for remittance or payment to the billing department or institution.
Course Limits
The course exchange is limited to two (2) courses per student per semester per participating campus. Students are required to take at least one course at their home campus when participating in the Course Exchange Program (excluding summer session). Exceptions to the two-course/semester limit among campuses are as follows:
- An exception is not required for a student that requests enrollment in a course/lab pairing (if the lecture and corresponding lab are considered two separate courses.);
- Other requests for exceptions may be reviewed on an individual basis (i.e., second degree at partner institution) but will be granted on a very limited basis only after consultation and agreement between registrars at the impacted campuses.
- Concordia does not participate in the course exchange during summer semester.
Grades received through Metro College Alliance course exchange will be applied to the student’s home campus grade point average.
Credits earned through Metro College Alliance course exchange will appear on a student’s transcript and be applied toward graduation requirements as though they were taken at their home-campus.
Students need to obtain advanced approval to substitute Metro College Alliance courses for required courses in a major or minor.
Students follow the host campus's start and end date for classes, holidays and breaks, and final exam schedules.
Students follow their home-campus deadlines to drop or add a course, or to enroll as pass/fail, instead of at the Metro College Alliance partner school where the course is offered or hosted.
Students register for Metro College Alliance exchange courses at their home campus and pay their home campus tuition and fees.