South Dakota Board of Regents

South Dakota does not have a separate state student loan program of it's own.

Students who still have tuition gaps after borrowing federal loans, can compare private lenders with the form at the top, right of this page- or they can look at a list of credit union lenders who offer college loans.

Most financial aid in South Dakota is merit-based. These scholarships are not based on need:

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

• provides $5,000 over 4 years of college ($1,000 for years 1-3; $2,000 for year 4)
• must have an ACT score of 24 or combined SAT math and reading of 1090
• 3.0 GPA (no grade less than a C)
• must be a South Dakota resident, going to an accredited school in South Dakota within 5 years of high school graduation (or within 1 year of discharge from military service)
• online scholarship applications

The Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarship

• provides $6,000 over 4 years ($1,000 for years 1 and 2; $1,500 for year 3; $2,500 for year 4)
• for enrolled members of American Indian Tribes whose reservation is located in whole or part in the State of South Dakota
• enroll in an accredited school in South Dakota within 5 years of high school graduation (or within 1 year of discharge from military service)

The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program for Native American Students

• $500 award
• for students planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field
• must demonstrate academic achievement through high school transcript and two letters of recommendation

The Haines Memorial Scholarship

• $2,150 in two installments- $1,075 each semester
• for S.D. public university students who are sophomores, juniors and seniors and are majoring in education
• have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5

The Annis I. Fowler/Kaden Scholarship

• $1,000 in two installments- $500 each semester
• for incoming freshmen who intend to major in elementary education
• high school GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation, essay

The Marlin R. Scarborough Memorial Scholarship

• $1,000 award- $500 each semester
• for a junior at a public South Dakota college
• 3.5 GPA, essay

South Dakota also operates a scholarship program for critical needs occupations:

The Dakota Corps Scholarship

This program provides full tuition and fees for students who have a 2.8 GPA and agree to enter and work in one of these fields in South Dakota:

• teaching K-12 music, special education, or foreign language in a public, private, or parochial school
• teaching high school math or science in a public, private, or parochial school
• working as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or in other allied health care fields

The service obligation for this scholarship is the number of years it was received + one more year. If this obligation is not met, then the scholarships turn into low-interest, state government school loans which must be repaid.

South Dakota participates in federal student loan forgiveness programs for health and education, but has no separate state loan forgiveness programs.

State public employees are entitled to pay a half-rate tuition price at any college controlled by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Check your South Dakota FAFSA deadline.



Find out which other college grants and scholarships you should apply for in South Dakota.

Find out more about topics mentioned here:

Federal student loans

Direct loans

credit union lenders