University of Jamestown

The University of Jamestown is a private university located on a 110-acre wooded campus outside of Jamestown, North Dakota. The Presbyterian Church founded the university in 1883 under the name Jamestown College. Reverend C. B. Stevens of Fargo recommended Jamestown as a suitable new site for a college due to its natural beauty and central location.

The new university was opened to all denominations and the first cohort of students arrived in the autumn of 1886. Jamestown College was forced to close in 1893 due to a lack of funds but was reopened by the Presbyterian Synod in 1909 to serve the growing, prosperous population of central North Dakota. Jamestown College hung on to its original name until 2013, when President Robert Badal announced that the institution would become the University of Jamestown.

As a liberal arts university, the University of Jamestown offers bachelor of art and bachelor of science degree programmes in more than 30 academic areas. The university also offers graduate degree programmes, including a master’s degree programme in education and a doctoral degree programme in physical therapy based in Fargo, North Dakota.

Campus life at Jamestown takes place across 27 buildings, including six residence halls. Students enjoy a 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio and an average class size of just 19 students. Outside of academics, the university offers 10 sports that compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The athletics teams are known as "The Jimmies".

There is also a popular non-denominational chapel service held on campus every Thursday morning, where students can listen to speakers including the chaplain, faculty members, fellow students and outside guests. The city of Jamestown is situated in the stunning James River Valley and has a population of 17,000.