Quick Facts

• Location: Fort Totten, North Dakota
• Address: 214 1st Ave, Fort Totten, ND 58335
• School Type: Tribal Community College / Career & Technical Education Provider
• Programs Offered: Carpentry, Professional Driver Training–CDL, plus academic associate degrees and certificates
• Training Style: Hands-on CTE, experiential learning, classroom instruction and workforce preparation
• Tuition Range: $150/credit, plus applicable fees
• Program Length: Carpentry approximately 1 year / 33 credits; CDL certificate 16 credits
• Online Programs Available: Selected academic courses
• Hybrid Learning: Not prominently advertised for core Carpentry/CDL training
• Financial Aid: Grants, scholarships, work-study and tuition waivers; FAFSA required for degree-seeking students seeking aid
• FAFSA School Code: 015793
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.3 (18 Reviews)
• Website: Official Cankdeska Cikana Community College website

Overview

Cankdeska Cikana Community College is a tribal college in Fort Totten serving the Spirit Lake community while offering academic and career training to eligible students. Its current CTE offerings are narrower than some North Dakota technical colleges, but the school has two highly relevant TradeSchoolScout programs: Carpentry and Professional Driver Training–CDL.

An important accuracy note: older CCCC materials may mention Automotive, HVAC, Plumbing or Construction Management, but the college’s current program-review page identifies those as furloughed programs. They should not be presented as currently active offerings.

Programs Offered

Carpentry Certificate

CCCC’s Carpentry certificate is a 33-credit program designed to take approximately one year. It prepares students for entry-level residential and commercial construction work.

Coursework includes:

• Carpentry Core Curriculum
• On-Site Construction I, II and III
• Carpentry Level One
• First Aid/CPR
• Blueprint reading
• Jobsite safety
• Hand and power tools
• Basic construction mathematics

Students participate in experiential and service-learning construction projects both on and off campus.

The program is certified through the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education and supported through the Native American Career and Technical Education Program.

Professional Driver Training — CDL

CCCC also offers a 16-credit Professional Driver Training certificate. The current curriculum includes:

• Introduction to CDL — 9 credits
• Introduction to Bus Driving — 3 credits
• Behind-the-Wheel Training — 4 credits

Optional endorsements include Hazmat and Passenger/School Bus training. Students learn road regulations, simulator skills, tractor-trailer driving, electronic logging and professional vehicle operation.

Tuition & Financial Aid

CCCC currently publishes tuition at:

• $150 per credit
• $1,800 tuition for a standard 12-credit semester
• $175 semester fees
• Approximately $700 for books/supplies

For CDL students, additional published costs include approximately:

• Physical/drug testing — $170
• Vehicle use, fuel and insurance — $1,000

Financial aid can include grants, scholarships, work-study and tuition waivers. The college states that degree-seeking students seeking financial aid complete FAFSA, and its school code is 015793.

CCCC also offers tuition-waiver opportunities for certain qualifying students, including recent high-school/GED graduates and other eligible groups.

Accreditation

Cankdeska Cikana Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Why Students Choose This School

• One-year Carpentry certificate
• Hands-on construction projects
• CDL training
• Hazmat and passenger/bus endorsement options
• Low $150-per-credit tuition
• Tribal college environment
• Federal financial aid for qualifying students
• Tuition-waiver opportunities
• Small, career-focused CTE offerings

Career Opportunities

Depending on training, graduates may pursue entry-level roles such as:

• Carpenter
• Construction Laborer
• Residential Construction Worker
• Commercial Construction Worker
• Commercial Truck Driver
• Bus Driver

CDL licensing and other occupational requirements still apply.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.3 (18 Reviews)

The review count is fairly small and reflects the college as a whole rather than just Carpentry or CDL.

Enrollment Tips

For trade-school users, focus on Carpentry and CDL, because these are the current CTE programs clearly listed by CCCC. Automotive, HVAC and Plumbing should not be included as active programs unless the college restores them.

Students pursuing CDL should also budget for the additional testing and vehicle-use charges beyond normal tuition.

Bottom Line

Cankdeska Cikana Community College is a relevant North Dakota trade-school listing, particularly for Carpentry and Commercial Driver Training. Its Carpentry certificate provides a clear one-year, hands-on construction pathway, while the 16-credit CDL certificate adds an important transportation option. Its low published tuition and HLC accreditation strengthen the value proposition.