Land Board Announces $762 Million in Distributions

North Dakota's trust beneficiaries, including public schools and universities, will receive nearly $762 million for the 2027-2029 biennium.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Financial Aid

Land Board Announces $762 Million in Distributions

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The North Dakota Board of University and School Lands announced nearly $762 million in distributions for the 2027-2029 biennium. The Common Schools Trust Fund will distribute more than $722 million to K-12 public education during that period.

Why it matters

The distributions represent an average increase of 23% over the current biennium, reflecting strong investment performance, oil and gas revenues, and management of state land and mineral resources. The payments flow to public schools, universities and other trust beneficiaries across North Dakota.

The Common Schools distribution is a 23.5% increase from the $585 million distributed in the current biennium, while the total distribution is nearly $762 million, up an average of 23%. The Land Board oversees more than 700,000 surface acres and 2.6 million mineral acres across 13 permanent trusts.

The players

North Dakota Board of University and School Lands

The state board that oversees North Dakota's trust lands, mineral resources and permanent trust funds, and approves distributions to beneficiaries.

North Dakota State University

A public research university in Fargo, scheduled to receive approximately $10.6 million from the distributions.

University of North Dakota

A public research university in Grand Forks, set to receive $8.38 million from the distributions.

The details

The Board of University and School Lands, which works with the Department of Trust Lands, oversees state surface and mineral resources. Oil and gas revenues, agricultural rents, easements and investment returns are combined to strengthen the state's trust funds, with approximately $2.4 billion in royalties generated over five years from nearly 10,000 wells.

June 30, 2026: The Common Schools Trust Fund was valued at approximately $9.3 billion.
November 9, 2026: The Land Board released the announcement of record distributions.
2027-2029 biennium: The record distributions are scheduled to be paid out.

Season Trajectory

The Common Schools Trust Fund's 23.5% increase continues a pattern of growth tied to oil and gas royalties and investment returns. The Land Board's roughly $9.5 billion portfolio places North Dakota's permanent education funding among the state's most significant financial reserves.

Students at K-12 public schools and state universities may see these distributions flow into their institutions over the 2027-2029 biennium. Families weighing college costs can track how state trust funds support tuition and campus budgets.

The takeaway

Trust fund growth tied to oil, gas and investments can directly strengthen public school and university budgets. Readers planning for education costs in North Dakota can use these state distribution figures as a reference point for future funding.