South Dakota Scholarships

Learn about South Dakota's "big five' scholarships, other state-managed scholarships and institutional scholarships offered by the public colleges and universities.

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South Dakota’s “Big Five” Scholarships

At a bare minimum, these are the scholarships every South Dakota student and family should know about.

Build Dakota Scholarship Fund

Build Dakota is a scholarship program created for skilled scholars entering high-demand programs at South Dakota technical colleges — allowing South Dakotans to earn their degrees for free, and it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to apply. Current Eligible Programs:

Agriculture
Automotive
Building Trades/Construction
Energy Technicians
Engineering Technicians
Healthcare/Public Service
Information Technology/Computer Information Systems
Precision Manufacturing
Welding

By applying for the Build Dakota Scholarship, you’re one step closer to a successful future – opening the door to get there faster and debt free, by supporting tuition, fees, books, and other required program expenses in the eligible technical college programs. Accepting the scholarship means you agree to:

- Enroll full-time in a high-need industry program at a South Dakota technical college.
- Following graduation, work full-time in your field of study for a minimum of three years in South Dakota.

Students who graduate from South Dakota technical colleges have a 90-100% placement rate.

Build Dakota Scholarship

Dakota Corps Scholarship

The Dakota Corps Scholarship for students entering college in the coming year provides full tuition and generally applicable fees to selected qualified applicants seeking degrees that will set them up to work in a critical-need occupation following graduation.

To be eligible for the Dakota Corps Scholarship students must:

Have graduated from an accredited South Dakota high school with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 or greater on a 4.0 scale. Home schooled students will be allowed to provide supplemental information to qualify if the information for this requirement is not available.
Have 27 ACT Composite or Superscore or greater (or the SAT equivalent).
Agree in writing to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical need occupation after graduation for as many years as the scholarship was received plus one year.
Apply for the Dakota Corps Scholarship for a school period that begins within one year of high school graduation, or within one year of release from active duty of an active component of the armed forces.
Be an incoming freshman at a participating South Dakota college as an undergraduate student in a program that will prepare the student to work in a critical need occupation
Be a U.S. citizen or national

Current Critical Need Areas:

Teacher – K-12 (select areas)
Teacher – Secondary (select areas)
Accountant/Auditor
Engineering (select areas)
Information Technology
Registered Nurse

Dakota Corp Scholarship

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship allows South Dakota’s most academically accomplished high school graduates to receive up to $7,500 scholarship from any university, college, or technical school in South Dakota that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Students have multiple ways to qualify for the scholarship:

Option 1 & 2 Requirements

Resident Status: Be a resident of South Dakota at the time of high school graduation
Attendance: Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by HLC that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.
Timing: Enter into the program within 5 years of high school graduation, or within 1 year of the student’s release from active-duty military service. Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or technical school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive partial award.
SAT Equivalencies: The sum of the verbal and math scores must be 1180 for 24 ACT and 1310 for 28 ACT equivalencies – testing after March 2016

Option 1 | 24 ACT and Curriculum/GPA

ACT Score: Have an ACT Composite or Super Score of 24 or higher before the beginning of secondary education or SAT Equivalent*
Complete the high school course requirements listed with no final grade below a C.
GPA: High school cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (must be unweighted) prior to graduation

Option 2 | 28 ACT, no curriculum/GPA

ACT Score: Have an ACT Composite or Super Score of 28 or higher before the beginning of secondary education or SAT Equivalent*
Curriculum/GPA: None
GPA: None

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

Freedom Scholarship

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is South Dakota’s first public/private partnership for a need-based scholarship – now the state’s largest financial need-based scholarship – made possible by the generosity of First PREMIER bank / PREMIER Bankcard, the State of South Dakota under the leadership of Governor Kristi Noem, Avera Health, and Sanford Health. Managed by the South Dakota Community Foundation, this funding is in an endowment that will continue to provide scholarships in perpetuity.

Students interested in the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship should apply for admission through their respective college’s’ website and submit their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) information to their respective college(s). Students will be reviewed for eligibility once admitted and upon completing the FAFSA. There is no separate South Dakota Freedom Scholarship application to complete.

The Freedom Scholarship is available to students with unmet financial need as determined through their submission of the FAFSA in conjunction with the financial aid office at the university. In order to be eligible for the Freedom Scholarship, students must:

Maintain South Dakota residency for at least one year prior to scholarship application.
Attend an eligible institution.
Demonstrate financial need.
Maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 while enrolled at the eligible institution.
Be pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
Graduate in five years or less.
Commit in writing to live and work in South Dakota for three years after graduation.
Acknowledge that any failure to meet these requirements will result in the conversion from a scholarship to an interest-bearing loan.

Freedom Scholarship

Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship

Established under Senate Bill 233 in 2013, the Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship opens doors for students preparing to work in a critical need teaching area. Students who will be juniors or seniors in the upcoming academic year and who are accepted into an elementary or secondary education program at a participating South Dakota post-secondary institution are eligible to apply. Critical needs areas for the 2020-2021 academic year include:

Teaching K-12 Special Education
Teaching High School Math or Science
Teaching High School Career and Technical Education
Teaching Secondary Language Arts
Teaching Secondary World Language
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learners (ELL)
Teaching K-12 Vocal or Instrumental Music

Critical Needs Teaching Scholarship

Additional State Managed Scholarships

Jump Start Scholarship

As a result of a student’s early graduation, if the student enrolls at any accredited postsecondary institution in South Dakota, the student will be eligible for $1,500 for the first year of college (deadline: September 1). To be eligible for the Jump Start Scholarship students must:

Be a resident of South Dakota
Complete the requirements of the recommended high school program as established by the Board of Education pursuant to §12-1-12.1, and be awarded a high school diploma by a public high school in three years or less
Have attended a public high school in South Dakota on a full-time basis for at least two semesters prior to graduating
Enroll in a participating postsecondary institution located in South Dakota within one year of graduating from high school

Jump Start Scholarship

Hagen-Harvey Scholarship

The Richard Hagen Minerva Harvey Memorial state scholarship program is for enrolled members of American Indian tribes. Once approved, recipients will be authorized to receive up to four years of funding, depending on year of attendance. Funds are to be used for students attending a public or non-public accredited university, college or technical college located in South Dakota. The Hagen Harvey Scholarship Board will determine the number of scholarships to be awarded.

This scholarship provides $6,000 over four years for study. Annual scholarship award amounts include a minimum of $1,000 for each of the first two years of attendance, a minimum of $1,500 for the third year of attendance, and a minimum of $2,500 for the fourth year of attendance. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled the equivalent of at least 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a cumulative 2.5 grade point average during the course of the scholarship period.

To be eligible, candidates must:

Graduation from an accredited South Dakota high school
Apply within 5 years after high school graduation or within 1 year after release from active military duty (if that release is within 5 years of high school graduation)
Be an enrolled member of an American Indian tribe
Must attend a public or non-public accredited university, college or technical institute located in South Dakota

Hagen-Harvey Scholarship

Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship

The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program for Native American students provides support for freshman Native American students who are pursuing studies in agribusiness, agriculture production, agricultural sciences or a natural resources degree at any post-secondary institution.

Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship

Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship

The Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship is awarded to first-time entering freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU or USD and who will select elementary education as their field of study. Special consideration is given to students with demonstrated motivational ability, a disability or who are self-supporting.

Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship

Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship

The Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who is classified as a junior at a public university at the time funding is received. Each South Dakota public university nominates one student for the scholarship.

Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship

U.S. Senate Youth Program Scholarship

The United States Senate Youth Program brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government to meet with an outstanding group of young leaders — two high school juniors or seniors from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) — for an intensive week-long education and leadership program to be held either in Washington, D.C., or online. The program is merit-based and highly competitive. Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Applications will be available the end of August each year. Applications are sent out to all high school principals, counselors, and social studies teachers. Each year The United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week takes place the beginning of March.

US Senate Youth Program Scholarship

U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is a recognition program. Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D. C. in June and the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House, in commemoration of their achievements. During their visit to Washington, Scholars have access to important national and international figures, including government officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists, and other accomplished people. Scholars are provided opportunities to wrestle with issues that concern America and the world; attend recitals, receptions, and ceremonies held in their honor; and visit area museums and monuments. But perhaps the greatest benefit to the Scholars, and the one they most often remark on, is the chance to exchange ideas with similarly motivated and accomplished peers, and to forge friendships that last a lifetime.

US Presidential Scholars Program

Institutional Scholarships

Click on the school logos below to see scholarships.

Statewide Scholarship Bulletin Board

Search scholarship opportunities on the Statewide Scholarship Bulletin Board, which includes scholarships that are managed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and state colleges as well as scholarship opportunities from outside organizations.

Statewide Scholarship Bulletin Board

Related Resources

Mapping Your Future

Mapping Your Future is a resource all South Dakotans should use when preparing for college. Funded in part by the South Dakota Community Foundation, this nonprofit’s mission is to enable individuals to achieve life-long success by empowering schools, students and families with college, financial aid, career and financial literacy information and services.

Mapping Your Future

Paying for College

Whether you want to know about the cost of college, available reduced tuition programs, types of financial aid or scholarship opportunities, we’re here to support you so you can reach your Dakota Dream.

Paying for College

Paying for College Video Series

Paying for college can feel overwhelming, and with scholarship deadlines and federal forms adding to the stress of post-secondary education, we are here to help. Available to all South Dakota students, this FREE resource provides an easy-to-follow video series that details the smartest way to afford college, how to avoid costly mistakes and where to turn for help.

Paying for College Videos

Completing the FAFSA

Learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and why it’s critical to complete in order to receive federal grants, loans and work-study opportunities. Find priority deadlines and resources to help you apply.

Completing the FAFSA

Financial Aid

Understanding your financial aid options is a critical part of planning and paying for your college education. See our Financial Aid page to make sure you’re on the right track to affording your journey through higher education.

Financial Aid

Cost of College

Learn about the factors that contribute to the total cost of college, and examine the average expenses that South Dakota resident and non-resident students would pay each year at South Dakota’s public technical colleges and universities – without taking into account financial aid, such as scholarships, grants and work study.

Cost of College

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