The Freedom Scholarship offers a statewide opportunity for students to help pay for college, as they help build South Dakota’s workforce. By demonstrating financial need and meeting scholarship requirements, students who plan to learn, live and work in South Dakota can use the scholarship toward any bachelor’s degree. To be considered for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, you need to apply for admission and be accepted at a participating South Dakota institution and complete the FAFSA. Students can reach out to their desired school to find out more eligibility requirements and application information and if funds remain. Students must commit in writing to living and working in South Dakota for at least three years after graduation and agree that any failure to meet the scholarship requirements will result in the scholarship being converted to a 4% fixed interest loan.
Eligibility:
Scholarship selection is based on financial need.
Applicable Institutions:
BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSMT, SDSU, USD, Private SD School
Questions:
Elli Haerter at 605-846-6976 or ehaerter@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Gene Abdallah Scholarship is for a graduate of a South Dakota high school pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Eligibility:
Scholarship requires minimum high school GPA of 3.00 to qualify.
Eligible majors/fields: Law Enforcement
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Inez Taylor Walter Scholarship was established by Harley Taylor in memory of his sister, Inez Walter who was from the Ipswich area. The scholarship is for high school students in South Dakota. Preference in awarding this scholarship will be given to a student planning on attending a South Dakota or North Dakota college or university in the field of nursing.
Eligibility:
Eligible majors/fields: Nursing
Applicable Institutions:
ANY technical college or university
Questions:
Kelly Nelson at 605-224-1025 or knelson@sdcommunityfoundation.org.
The Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship is open to upcoming Juniors and Seniors in college who are pursuing a degree in specific education fields. The scholarship encourages South Dakota students to obtain their post-secondary education in South Dakota for teaching in certain critical teaching occupations. Awardees must agree in writing to remain in the state upon completion of their education to contribute to the state and its citizens by working in an eligible critical need teaching occupation – failure to do so will result in scholarship funding converting to a low interest loan that must be repaid. Eligible students can apply using the SD Board of Regents Scholarship Application Portal. Scholarships tentatively open February 2024.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be upcoming Juniors and Seniors in college. Eligible majors/fields: Certain Teaching Occupations.
Applicable Institutions:
BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU, USD, Private SD School
Questions:
Students graduating from a public high school in 3 years or less are eligible for a one time scholarship of $1500 to be distributed equally across both the Fall and Spring semesters during their first year of post-secondary enrollment. Eligible students can apply using the SD Board of Regents Online Scholarship Portal.
Eligibility:
- Be a resident of South Dakota;
- Complete the requirements of the recommended high school program as established by the Board of Education pursuant to §13-1-12.1, 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; and
- Within one year of graduating from high school, excluding any time served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, enroll in a college, university, or technical school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.
Applicable Institutions:
- Any SOUTH DAKOTA technical college or university
Questions:
The SD Opportunity Scholarship Spring Enrollment application is available to students that either missed the fall deadline for the scholarship or who are enrolling for the first time in the spring term.
All students must complete the SD Opportunity Scholarship Application to receive funding. Scholarship deadline for spring enrollment is January 15.
Eligibility:
Scholarship requires minimum ACT score of 24 and minimum high school GPA of 3.00 to qualify.
Applicable Institutions:
Any SOUTH DAKOTA technical college or university
Questions:
South Dakota Board of Regents at 605-773-3455 or scholarships@sdbor.edu
