Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program (ASTEP)
Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program (ASTEP)
500 University Ave W. Memorial Hall 203K
Minot
, ND
58707
In an inclusive and supportive environment, ASTEP students attend college courses with students who don’t have disabilities, earn meaningful credentials, gain employment and learn independent living and social skills. ASTEP’s goal is to make the dream of college a reality for students with I/DD and create quality futures for these individuals to live and work in their communities. Located at Minot State University since 2010, ASTEP partners with MSU and Dakota College at Bottineau to provide the first program in North Dakota to support young adults with I/DD to attend college. Up to twenty students attended annually from all over the state as well as from neighboring states.
Program information submitted: Feb 18, 2026
| General |
| Public or private: | Public |
|---|
| Type of school: | 4-year college or university |
|---|
| Is this program a federally funded TPSID program?: | No |
|---|
| Number of students: | 14 |
|---|
| Requirements |
| Program serves students who have left high school?: | Some of our students have left high school |
|---|
| High school diploma required?: | No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted |
|---|
| Deadline to apply to this program: | 30-Apr |
|---|
| Criteria for admission: | |
|---|
| Accepts out-of-state students?: | Yes |
|---|
| Students in this program have these disabilities: | - Intellectual disability
- Autism
- Other developmental disabilities may be considered
|
|---|
| Planned program length: |
- 3 years
- Varies from student to student
|
|---|
| Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates |
| Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: | 80% |
|---|
| Cost |
| Average student in-state tuition and fees for the current school year: | $3,196.00 |
|---|
| Out-of-state tuition and fees: | $3,196.00 |
|---|
| Room and board cost: | $11,420.00 |
|---|
| Program specific fees: | $8,000.00 |
|---|
| Other costs: | $1,100.00
Application fee: $35.00
Orientation fee: $125.00 |
|---|
| Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)?: | No |
|---|
| Students pay for the program in the following ways: | - Private pay (student and family)
- Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
- Scholarships
- Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
- Local School District funds
- Veteran or Military Benefits
|
|---|
| Scholarships available: | UCEDD Scholarship: M.Bryce FiField ACCESS Scholarship: http://www.ndcpd.org/access-scholarship.html |
|---|
| Academic |
| Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
- Typical college courses for credit
- Typical college courses for audit
|
|---|
| More about course access: | Students taking college classes for credit work with an advisor and enroll as any other student.
Students auditing classes work with their advisor to enroll in class pertaining to the ASTEP program of study. Advisors work with professors to gain permission for a student to audit their class per campus policy for all auditing students. |
|---|
| Are students in this program able to access support services through your IHE disability services office?: | Yes |
|---|
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | No |
|---|
| Percentage of all courses taken by students that are inclusive: | 100% |
|---|
| Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester?: | Yes |
|---|
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | College to Career Certificate |
|---|
| Is the credential approved by the college/university?: | Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE |
|---|
| Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students?: | Advertising and Marketing (AAS) (Certificate) • Information Technology (AAS) • Information Management – Web Design (Certificate) • Information Technology – Web Master (AAS) • Medical Administrative Assistant (AAS) • Medical Assistant (AAS) (Certificate) • Associate Degree Nursing (AAS) • Diagnostic Medical Sonography (AAS) • Practical Nursing (Certificate) • Paramedic Technology (AAS) • Paraprofessional Education Early Childhood (AAS) • Paraprofessional Education K-12 (AAS) • Paraprofessional Education (Certificate) • Passport Program • Reception Services (Certificate) • Small Business Management (AAS) (Certificate) • Technical Studies (AAS) (Certificate) |
|---|
| Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services: |
- Career services
- Disability/accessibility services
- Academic tutoring services
- Health services
- Mental health/counseling services
- Access to a transcript via the registrar
- Academic advising services (not program staff)
|
|---|
| Employment |
| Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 93% |
|---|
| Other career development activities are: | - Internships
- Volunteer work
- Community Service
- Work Study
|
|---|
| Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 100% |
|---|
| Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? | Yes |
|---|
| Housing |
| Housing is provided to students?: | Yes |
|---|
| Housing options available: | |
|---|
| Residential supports for students who live in college/university housing: | - Residential Assistant or Advisor who provides supports
- Intermittent or on-call staff support
|
|---|
