Championship performances in athletics and academics are recognized each year with the presentation of the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, which goes to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the national championship finals site for each of the NCAA's national championships across all divisions. North Dakota State has earned 22 awards including three-time football winner Carson Wentz and three-time wrestling national qualifier Clay Ream.
- 2011 - Amy Anderson, women's golf
- 2011 - Whitney Carlson, women's outdoor track and field
- 2013 - Esley Thorton, football
- 2014 - Carson Wentz, football
- 2015 - Carson Wentz, football
- 2016 - Carson Wentz, football
- 2016 - Clay Ream, wrestling
- 2017 - Clay Ream, wrestling
- 2018 - Daniel Polansky, football
- 2018 - Clay Ream, wrestling
- 2019 - Ben Ellefson, football
- 2020 - Jackson Hankey, football
- 2021 - Benji Phillips, men's outdoor track and field
- 2021 - Shelby Gunnells, women's outdoor track and field
- 2022 - Cole Wisniewski, football
- 2022 - Jared Franek, wrestling
- 2022 - Jacob Rodin, men's outdoor track and field
- 2023 - Cole Wisniewski, football
- 2023 - Jared Franek, wrestling
- 2023 - Benji Phillips, men's outdoor track and field
- 2025 - Sam Roller, men's outdoor track and field
- 2026 - Zach McGlynn, men's inoor track and field
