Plan

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement

State

North Dakota

Funded Ratio

68.6%

Assets

$3.17B

Members

23,391

Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

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By Kiznis Studio Editorial · June 2026 · North Dakota · Teachers Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

Funded Ratio

68.6%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

$1.45B

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

23,391

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

8.8%

net investment return

0.5pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

8.3%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

18.1%

of actuarially required contribution

How North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 68.6%

National avg

A ratio of 68.6% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.

Healthy Threshold

Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.

Participant Composition

The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability — plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.

Investment Policy Mix

Public pension plans report their asset allocation in Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year	Funded Ratio	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	68.6%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	67.2%	$3.17B	$1.55B	23,391
2022	65.6%	$3.02B	$1.59B	23,067
2021	64.2%	$3.28B	$1.83B	22,643
2020	61.0%	$2.65B	$1.69B	22,098
2019	60.8%	$2.62B	$1.69B	21,750
2018	63.6%	$2.53B	$1.45B	21,247
2017	61.8%	$2.36B	$1.46B	20,975
2016	60.0%	$2.12B	$1.42B	20,663
2015	59.2%	$2.14B	$1.48B	20,146
2014	60.7%	$2.09B	$1.36B	19,561
2013	56.7%	$1.84B	$1.40B	19,127
2012	56.1%	$1.65B	$1.29B	18,648
2011	57.4%	$1.73B	$1.28B	18,400
2010	58.5%	$1.44B	$1.02B	18,051
2009	58.3%	$1.31B	$937M	17,663
2008	67.8%	$1.85B	$877M	17,337
2007	67.0%	$2.03B	$1000M	17,115
2006	61.4%	$1.72B	$1.08B	16,887
2005	60.3%	$1.53B	$1.01B	16,764

What the Data Says About North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement reports a funded ratio of 68.6% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $3.17B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $1.45B. As a Teachers plan operating under North Dakota sponsorship, it covers 23,391 members (11,766 active contributors, 9,615 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.

A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 18.1% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 8.3%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For North Dakota taxpayers and plan members, the $1.45B unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement rely on the full faith and credit of North Dakota — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.

Membership

11,766

Active Members

9,615

Retirees

23,391

Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type: Teachers
State: North Dakota
Market Assets: $3.17B
ARC Payment: 18.1%

Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

Other North Dakota Plans

North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System 75.8%
Bismarck Police Plan 72.7%
Bismarck Employees' Pension Plan 54.4%

All North Dakota plans →

Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement fully funded?

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement has a funded ratio of 68.6% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.

What happens if North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement runs out of money?

Public pension plans like North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case North Dakota. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.

What does a funded ratio of 68.6% mean?

A funded ratio of 68.6% means that North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement currently has assets equal to 68.6% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $1.45B. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.

How does North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement compare to other public pensions?

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement is a Teachers plan in North Dakota serving 23,391 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement's funded ratio of 68.6% places it near the national average.

How many members does North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement have?

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement covers 23,391 total members, including 11,766 active employees and 9,615 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability — when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.

What is the ARC payment percentage for North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement?

North Dakota Teachers Fund for Retirement pays 18.1% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.

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Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

All federal data sources used on this page

U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov