News
Monday, June 30, 2025 at 12:40 pm
The Department of Trust Lands will hold fall surface lease auctions throughout North Dakota in October. The fall auction schedule and tract listing will be posted here on our home page as soon as it is finalized.
Check out our new customer portal to search for current lease information - Surface Lease Agreements · North Dakota Land Portal.
Monday, March 31, 2025 at 01:00 am
The Department of Trust Lands on behalf of the Board of University & School Lands has concluded the spring auction season.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 03:00 pm
The Most Recent Survey - 2025 County Rents and Prices Survey
Last Year's Survey - 2024 County Rents and Prices Survey
Past Surveys can be found under the Resources tab.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – DECEMBER 11, 2024
Board of University and School Lands Announces Record Distributions for 2025-2027 Biennium
Bismarck, ND – On behalf of the Board of University & School Lands, the Department of Trust Lands is pleased to announce historic distributions for the upcoming 2025-2027 biennium, reflecting a significant increase in asset values. The Board, in close collaboration with Trust Lands staff, has carefully managed assets including over 700,000 surface acres, 2.6 million mineral acres, and 13 permanent trusts. This prudent management has preserved the integrity of the assets while driving significant growth, leading to a 17% biennial increase in overall distributions to fund beneficiaries.
This record growth stems from a powerful combination of factors, including $2 billion in oil and gas royalties generated over the last five years from nearly 10,000 wells, agricultural rents, easement revenues, and a well-diversified $7.4 billion investment portfolio, all of which directly strengthen the funding of education in North Dakota both now and for future generations. The Common Schools Trust Fund, with a June 30, 2024 value of $7 billion, makes up the vast majority of the Land Board’s investment portfolio.
The Department of Trust Lands will distribute nearly $620 million dollars over the next two years to the following beneficiaries:
- Common Schools Trust Fund (K-12 Public Education) - $584,677,350
- North Dakota State University - $8,770,000
- University of North Dakota - $6,948,000
- Youth Correctional Center - $3,136,000
- State College of Science - $2,570,284
- School for the Deaf - $2,388,000
- State Hospital - $1,976,284
- School for the Blind - $1,936,284
- Valley City State University - $1,566,000
- Mayville State University - $1,102,000
- Veterans Home - $994,284
- Dickinson State University – $406,284
- Minot State University – $406,284
- Dakota College at Bottineau - $406,284
"We are proud to announce record distributions, demonstrating the Land Board’s ongoing commitment to prudently manage North Dakota’s trust land assts and support the state’s educational needs," said Joseph Heringer, Trust Lands Commissioner "These funds will continue to ensure that education in our state remains strong, now and for generations to come."
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 05:00 pm
The Department of Trust Lands on behalf of the Board of University & School Lands has concluded the fall auction season.
Friday, June 7, 2024 at 04:50 pm
The following Minerals Management Division fees have been changed or eliminated as follows:
Minerals Management Division Fee Amount/Per
Oil & Gas Lease Nomination Fee $0.00
Oil & Gas Lease Application Fee (upon winning lease) $50.00/tract
Oil & Gas Lease Assignment Fee $0.00
Oil & Gas Lease Extension/Amendment Application Fee $1,000.00/lease
Oil & Gas Lease Shut-in Application Fee $100.00/lease
Coal Lease Assignment Fee $0.00
Coal Lease Amendment, Renewal Request Fee $0.00
Monday, May 13, 2024 at 01:30 pm
Spring 2024 Surface Lease Auction Restults
Spring 2024 Surface Lease Auctions Unleased Tracts Available for Lease
Thank you for your continued support of funding K-12 education in North Dakota.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 03:00 pm
The most recent Department of Trust Lands' Biennial Report is now available! - 2021-2023 Biennial Report
To view the Department's historical reports please visit Resources - Biennial Reports.
Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 08:00 am
Watch the Red Tape Reduction video here
Public input is now being accepted for the second round of Gov. Doug Burgum’s Red Tape Reduction initiative aimed at eliminating unnecessary and outdated regulations, rules, policies and procedures to make government more efficient and effective and help lower costs for taxpayers, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announced today.
Help reduce State red tape and submit your suggestions here - Red Tape Reduction Working Group | North Dakota Office of the Governor (nd.gov)
Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Nearly $500M to be distributed to K-12 from Common Schools Trust Fund this biennium, easing pressure on property taxes and state’s general fund
BISMARCK, N.D. (JULY 27, 2023) –The state of North Dakota collected a record $522.5 million in oil and gas royalties paid on state-owned mineral acres during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, according to information presented today to the North Dakota Board of University and School Lands (Land Board). This is on top of a previous record of $457 million in fiscal year 2021-22...