North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) has once again earned the prestigious College of Tomorrow award from John Deere Company, receiving the highest possible ranking of Platinum for the tenth consecutive year. The award was presented during the College’s annual John Deere Tech Advisory Committee Meeting and serves as a benchmark for excellence among the 25 John Deere Tech partner colleges in the United States. 

The College of Tomorrow program evaluates John Deere Tech programs across four ranking levels—Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze—based on criteria that reflect advancements in the agriculture equipment industry. These standards change annually, mirroring the constant growth and updates in John Deere technology and training. 

NDSCS’s continued Platinum status reflects its excellence in key areas such as program image and professionalism, student learning, instructor development, facilities, and safety. 

“Technology in agriculture doesn’t stand still—and neither do we,” said Tyler Slettedahl, the NDSCS John Deere Tech Program Coordinator. “As equipment, diagnostics, and systems evolve, we continually adapt to meet those changes head-on. The College of Tomorrow standards rise each year, and I’m proud to say our program consistently meets those expectations.” 

The NDSCS John Deere Tech program is designed to prepare entry-level technicians for John Deere dealerships across North Dakota and the surrounding region. 

Travis Heck, Service Development Manager for John Deere, praised the long-standing partnership with NDSCS. “It’s been great working with Tyler and the team at NDSCS. I’ve once again had the pleasure of presenting the Platinum award to NDSCS. College of Tomorrow is our measuring stick for what makes a great John Deere Tech program, and NDSCS continues to be one of the best, earning the highest award we offer. We actually use NDSCS as one of the benchmarks for the rest of our 25 programs across the country.” 

The John Deere Tech program at NDSCS blends advanced on-campus learning with supervised work experience at sponsoring dealerships. Students receive hands-on training with John Deere equipment and technologies, supported by both classroom instruction and real-world service experience. Graduates of the program earn an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. 

The program is housed on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton, N.D. To learn more, visit NDSCS.edu/JohnDeere, or contact the Diesel Technology Department at 701-671-2330.