NDCompass (ndcompass.org), a program of the North Dakota State University Center for Social Research, is a comprehensive, user-friendly data and research platform that provides reliable, unbiased socio-economic and demographic data and applied research for North Dakota and beyond. It is used by business leaders, community leaders, policymakers, researchers, and the public to understand the state’s social and economic landscape, identify trends, and make informed decisions.

What NDCompass offers:

Data You Can Trust:

NDCompass is a credible, trustworthy, and non-biased resource that provides data on demographics, the economy, workforce, health, education, and more, in an accessible format. The data is broken down by county, city, and region, for localized insights.

Research You Can Use:

In addition to the data, the updated version of the website features a new research section with in-depth research add practical analysis conducted by the Center for Social Research at NDSU.

Improved Data Access and Visualization Tools:

Users can explore data by topic, demographic, or geographic area and visualize data in interactive dashboards. The Build Your Own Dataset tool allows users to customize the data they want to download for their own analysis.

Trends and Insights:

The site features major trends, data highlights and articles to provide context to the data presented.

Who uses NDCompass:

Non-Profit Organizations: For program planning, needs assessment, and grant applications.

Business Leaders: To make informed decisions in areas like market analysis, recruitment, and community development.

Government Agencies: To help with planning, policy, and program development.

Researchers: To conduct studies and gather information on the state.

The Public: To better understand North Dakota’s communities and social issues.

Key Purpose:

The core goal of NDCompass is to provide a solid foundation of data and research for understanding issues and opportunities within North Dakota, ultimately supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for its residents.

Bios

Ina Cernusca

Research Specialist, North Dakota Compass Project Director

Ina is a research specialist within the Center for Social Research. With extensive experience in market and social research, she has participated in many projects that involved quantitative and qualitative research, grant writing, project management, and outreach activities. Ina earned her MBA from the University of Missouri Columbia and worked as a marketing research specialist with the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri prior to moving to North Dakota.

Ina joined the Center for Social Research in 2013 and worked on various applied socio-economic research projects. Since 2019, as North Dakota Compass Project Director, Ina has led the design and operation of the project to ensure access to reliable, accurate and unbiased demographic and socio-economic data to support informed decision making and community engagement in North Dakota. With a diverse background in research and data analysis, Ina specializes in analyzing demographic and socio-economic trends and creating data visualizations that translate complex data into clear, practical insights for diverse audiences.

Kendra Erickson-Dockter

Research Specialist

Kendra Erickson-Dockter is a research specialist with the Center for Social Research at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in a part-time appointment. Kendra earned her Master of Science degree in Sociology specializing in Medical Sociology and continued her training, completing course work in the Human Development doctorate program with an emphasis in Applied Gerontology both from NDSU. Her research efforts have involved a wide range of topics, from early childhood and aging to health and disadvantaged populations. Kendra currently provides data analysis, communication, and outreach support for numerous projects such as North Dakota Compass, PRAMS, SOARS and Community Health Needs Assessment. In her current role, Kendra uses data to tell a story, makes data easy to understand and accessible, and provides information to North Dakota communities and organizations for data driven decision-making in addition to a variety of other uses. Previously, Kendra served as the Project Director of North Dakota Compass from 2013 to 2019, where she led the design and operation of the project, working to increase awareness and understanding of NDCompass.