by Joshua Espinal |
Last Updated: January 9, 2025 The purpose of this detailed listing of South Dakota scholarships for college is to help you plan your scholarship search throughout the year. Please find information below about scholarships specifically for South Dakota students. Some of the deadlines may be from prior years. Scholarship deadlines are cyclical, so even if a deadline has passed, the website will likely be updated for the current school year. Be sure to reach out to the sponsor or check sponsor websites for the most recent details.
January
This gives twenty $1,500 awards. This is available to members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) who are residents of one of the following states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia or Wisconsin. The applicant must plan to major in an eligible agricultural field and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. The deadline to apply is January 9th. More details here.
Applicants should desire a career in a trade supportive to the protection and enhancement of our natural resources, environment, and/or related fields. Students that are intending to enroll or are already enrolled at a South Dakota university, technical institution, or other post-secondary trade school are eligible to apply. Applicants must also have a GPA of 2.0 or greater. The deadline to apply is January 15th. Read more here.
An applicant should desire a career in a trade supportive to the protection and enhancement of our natural resources and environment, the solid waste industry and/or related fields. Preference will be given to South Dakota residents intending to or enrolled at a South Dakota institution of higher learning, vocational school, or other postsecondary trade school. The deadline to apply is January 15th. Learn more here.
This gives a yearly opportunity for students working in health services within the midwest. There are seven different scholarships within the website students can take advantage of. Due January 15th More info here.
This ranges from $1,000 – $80,000. Applicants must reside and study in one of these regions: Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Applicants must have taken the SAT or ACT and intend to enroll in an Opportunity Partner College and have a minimum GPA of 2.8. The deadline to apply is January 31st. More info here.
This is for $1,800 a year for tuition and fees. ACT composite score of 26 or 1240 SAT score required. Available for qualified USF students in the Air Force ROTC program offered on the campus of South Dakota State University. The deadline to apply is by January 31st of your senior year. Apply here.
February
Students must be first year students entering the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for the upcoming fall semester. Applicants must be from one of the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington or Wyoming. The amount varies and the deadline to apply is February 9th. Website found here.
Will award scholarships to qualified and deserving high school graduates. The scholarship is intended to assist qualified graduates to further their education at an accredited institution of higher education. All applicants must be or have been a high school student athlete of an accredited South Dakota high school who has had some type of medical issues or a family member has had some type of medical issues that may have affected them during their high school career. The deadline to apply is February 10th. More info. here.
These are for $1,000. To be considered, applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school and must show ample evidence that he/she is capable of succeeding at the post secondary level. The deadline to apply is February 10th. Read more here.
This is for $1,000. Applicants must have a family relationship to Yankton College alumni, former faculty or staff or a family friend, teacher, pastor or other person with a connection to Yankton College. Applicants must also be seeking a four-year degree from an accredited university or college as a full-time student. The deadline to apply is February 21st. More info here.
This is for Native American Students; provides support for freshman Native American Students who are pursuing studies in agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or a natural resources degree at any postsecondary institution. The deadline to apply is February 25th. Read more here.
This is awarded to first-time entering freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU or USD and who will select elementary education as their major field. Special consideration is given to students with demonstrated motivational ability, a disability, or who are self-supporting. The deadline to apply is February 25th. More details here.
This is a scholarship that has students write an essay about helping their community and the award depending on your position is between $2,500-$10,000. Due February 28th. More info here
March
Allows for female high schoolers to have a chance to go to certain colleges this organization has partnered with in order to learn skills and meet other peers with the scholarship. Application is due March 1st More info here
This offers two one-time scholarships of $4,000 to returning full time USF students from South Dakota. The deadline is March 3rd. Apply here.
This provides up to 45 awards for $1,000 each to graduating high school seniors of rural South Dakota who will be pursuing a degree at any accredited U.S. vocational school, military academy, college, or university. Eligible applicants must currently reside within one of the Golden West exchanges and be enrolled at a post-secondary institution for the upcoming fall with at least 12 or more classroom credits. The deadline is March 14th. Read more here.
This scholarship goes to the applicants with the highest class ranking among graduating seniors of Faith High School, traditionally the valedictorian and salutatorian. Applicants must plan to attend a college, university, or vocational or technical school. This scholarship offers multiple awards and is renewable. The deadline is March 15th. More info here.
This award benefits graduating seniors from Dell Rapids public or private high schools. Eligible applicants must plan to attend an accredited college, or vocational or technical school, and demonstrate originality and interest in seeking personal challenges. Applicants may also be evaluated according to special circumstances, motivation to pursue goals, and the inspiration for those goals. The deadline is March 15th. Read more here.
Graduating seniors of Tea Area High School, including home-schooled students in Tea who plan to attend an accredited college, university, or technical school are eligible for this scholarship. Students must also have a GPA of 2.5 or higher over the most recent three years; demonstrate leadership ability through participation in extracurricular, community, church, or work activities; and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship offers multiple awards. The deadline is March 15th. Website found here.
Applicants for this scholarship must be graduating seniors of a public or private high school located in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, who plan to attend an accredited technical school or four-year academic college or university. Applicants must also have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The deadline is March 15th. Website found here.
This award benefits graduating seniors of Baltic High School who plan to attend an accredited college, university, vocational school, or technical school. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The deadline is March 15th. More info here.
Applicants must be graduating seniors from an accredited high school in Minnehaha or Lincoln County, South Dakota. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited college or university or vocational or technical school. Financial need, participation in school and community affairs, and motivation to pursue goals is also a must. The deadline is March 15th. More details here.
This scholarship is open to graduating seniors of Alcester-Hudson High School who have participated in agriculture courses or Future Farmers of America and who demonstrate financial need. The deadline is March 15th. Learn more here.
This scholarship provides an award for the first year of higher education at an accredited college, university, vocational, or technical school for students from the Sioux Falls area who have a financial need. Applicants must be graduating seniors of an alternative school, or of a Sioux Falls area public or private high school, or have earned a GED. Applicants graduating from a public or private high school must have a cumulative GPA of no greater than 3.0. The deadline is March 15th. Read more here.
Successful candidates for this award must be graduating from a Minnehaha County public or private high school and planning to attend a South Dakota college or university. Additional criteria includes participation in extra-curricular and community activities and a desire and ability to succeed in a chosen career field. The deadline is March 15th. More details here.
This is for $2500. This is for applicants who will attend a four year college or university in South Dakota and have a GPA of 3.9 and ACT of at least 28. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Learn more here.
This is for $1000. This is for graduating SD Seniors who are enrolled tribal members, attend SD state supported college or technical school, have a 2.5 GPA, and have participated in extracurricular or community activities. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Read more here.
Five $1,000 scholarships are awarded to area high school students who will be majoring in a healthcare field. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Website found here.
This is a one-year award valued at $2,000. To be eligible students must be a South Dakota resident; graduating from a SD high school. They must show financial need, have an average minimum high school GPA of 3.0, be accepted for admission to the University of South Dakota, and be “full-time student” or minimum of 12 credit hours. The deadline to apply is March 22nd. More info. Here.
April
This provides annual awards ranging in value from $2,000 to $2,500 for students who will be enrolling in a retail-related educational program at an accredited vocational/technical school, college, or university within South Dakota. Applicants must have completed at least one year of college or one semester of vocational training, be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per semester, and submit a personal statement of career goals. The deadline is April 18th. Apply here.
This is open to students who are legal U.S. residents, residents of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin, and high school seniors at a high school in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Applicants must be planning to attend, physically or virtually, an eligible college the fall following the registration dates. The deadline is April 30th. More details here.
This is awarded to students that are going to major in certain fields (science, health, etc.) and are going to attend college or a university in either North and South Dakota. The application will be due on April 30th. More info here.
May
This is given to students that are willingly wanting to pursue a career in aviation, but not having enough funds to do so. The deadline is due on May 15th. Read more here.
This is for $2,500 per academic year, per four years. This is available to American Indian high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher who reside in one of the 23 states serviced by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation and its affiliated companies: Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Iowa. The deadline to apply is May 31st. Learn more here.
June
July
August
September
This gives $5,000 for over four years. To be eligible, applicants must attend a South Dakota college or technical school. Applicants must also complete the Regents Scholar Curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, an ACT score of 24 or higher, and no grade below a C in the core classes. The deadline to apply is September 1st. Learn more here.
This is for $1,700 and is open to students who attend a SD high school for at least two semesters, graduate in three years or less, and attend a participating South Dakota post-secondary school. Due September 1st. More info here.
October
November
December
This is for $10,000 over four year and is awarded to a graduating senior from Lennox High School in South Dakota who exhibits excellence, citizenship and scholarship. The deadline to apply is December 1st. Website found here.
This scholarship awards $2,500 to an incoming first-year student from Kossuth County in Iowa who meets all USD admission criteria. The deadline to apply is December 1st. More info here.
This recognizes American Indian high school seniors who demonstrate strong academic potential. This is valued at up to $20,000 over a four-year period. Recipients are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Partial, one-time scholarships also are available to American Indian students who demonstrate a commitment to academic learning. The deadline to apply is December 1st. Read more here.
This will be awarded to two incoming freshmen and is valued up to $40,000 ($10,000 per year). First preference is recent Scotland High School graduates followed by second, third or fourth year current USD students from Scotland, South Dakota. Second preference is Freeman Public High School graduates and third preference is recent graduates from any public high school in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. The deadline to apply is December 1st. Learn more here.
This is open to high school seniors with a 28 or higher ACT (1320 SAT). The scholarship covers tuition for a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester up to 120 hours over four years, general fees, double occupancy room (funded by a Housing Scholarship) and standard board charges. To be eligible, you must be a resident of South Dakota and maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average. The deadline to apply is December 1st. More details here.
This pays full tuition and generally-applicable fees. To be eligible, applicants must attend a South Dakota college or technical school. Applicants also must go into a critical need occupation after graduation from college and have an ACT score of 24+ and GPA of 2.8+. The deadline to apply is December 15th. Learn more here.
This is given to an applicant that is going into the plumbing, heating or cooling industry. The deadline to apply is December 31st. Applications are available here.
Deadline's Vary
This is $5,000 per year, renewable for four years for a total of $20,000. This is awarded to outstanding high school seniors from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa each year based on ACT/SAT scores or GPA and extracurricular activities. Students are chosen for Stai Honors through a competitive interview selection process. At a minimum, students selected to interview must have a 30 or higher ACT composite or superscore (or SAT equivalent); or have a GPA of 3.9 or higher; and have extensive leadership and extracurricular involvement. The deadline varies. Learn more here.
Provides $1,000 to Native American students of Lakota, Dakota, or Nakota heritage who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at one of the accredited colleges within South Dakota. Applicants must have at least sophomore-level standing, have successfully completed at least 24 credits, be a college-level athlete in track, show academic potential with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and demonstrate a commitment to their American Indian culture. More info here.
Gives the chance for South Dakota students for education while being able to close the gap for the financial burden of paying for school. Schools within the state have partnered with this program for students to go to school. More info here.
Allows for students that are pursuing a career in the mining field to be awarded a $1000 scholarship plus the chance to meet people within the industry in sessions. More info here
Is a partnered school with the WUE, allowing students to save money on tuition for the applied school by being able to pay near the in-state resident tuition (150%). More info here.
Has also partnered with the WUE in order to provide saving to students within the western regions of the U.S. Allows students out of state to pay 150% tuition for the school if out of state to save money from out of state tuition. More info here
Allows students in western states to apply to partnered schools for scholarships in order to save money by being able to pay for in state-tuition rates in their respective areas. More info here.
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