It is the third largest college in the North Dakota University System with 3,781 students as of September 2016.

Dances, hypnotists, comedians, artists, barbecues, and tie-dye are popular events.

Bismarck State competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, rodeo, track & field, and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, rodeo, track & field, and volleyball.

[2] Bismarck State College is currently transitioning into a four-year institution and will be leaving the Mon-Dak Conference after the 2024–25 academic year.

They will become members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and has applied to join the Frontier Conference beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.