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Posted: February 18th, 2022

South Dakota is known as the “Mount Rushmore” State. No doubt you’ll want to “rush” to apply for these South Dakota scholarships when you see them! Students in South Dakota have access to a variety of opportunities to fund their education in different fields of study. Continue reading to learn the top South Dakota scholarships!

Jump ahead to:

• Top South Dakota scholarships
• Upcoming South Dakota scholarships
• Additional South Dakota scholarship resources
• Summary of South Dakota scholarships

Top South Dakota scholarships

South Dakota Farm Bureau Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicants apply for an agriculture-focus or community-focus scholarship, depending on their major and/or experience with agriculture. Applicant, applicant’s parents, or guardians must be a current member of South Dakota Farm Bureau, and must have been a member for 2 years. Must be 17 years of age or older, a high school graduate or a college freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: March 15, 2022

South Dakota Bankers Association Scholarship

• Eligibility: College students in their junior year who are pursuing a career in banking or finance
• Amount: $1,500 – $4,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2022

South Dakota Engineering Society Central Chapter Scholarship

• Eligibility: South Dakota graduating seniors in the Central Chapter area planning to attend either South Dakota State University or South Dakota School of Mines & Technology for engineering
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 8, 2022

South Dakota Retailers Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: South Dakota high school graduates/GED earners planning to enroll in retail-related courses of study at qualifying, accredited South Dakota technical schools, colleges, universities, or certified professional training institutes. Applicants must have completed at least 24 college credits or 12 credits from a tech school or certified professional training institute. Full-time post-secondary work experience in lieu of the post-secondary education requirement is considered
• Amount: $2,000 – $2,700
• Deadline: April 19, 2022

Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship

• Eligibility: Undergraduates with a minimum 2.8 GPA who are enrolled in their final two years of study at a South Dakota postsecondary institution. Applicants must be fully admitted to an elementary OR secondary education program at the institution that is preparing them to work in a critical-need teaching area. Award winners must agree in writing to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical-need teaching occupation for 5 years after graduating
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: April 15, 2022

South Dakota Golf Association Scholarships

• Eligibility: South Dakota residents (for a minimum of two years prior to applying) attending  a four-year South Dakota college, university, or accredited post high school institution
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: June 30, 2022

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

• Eligibility: Residents of South Dakota at the time of high school graduation who attend an accredited school in the state. There are two options regarding test scores and GPA:

1. Have an ACT of 24 or higher OR SAT verbal + mathematics score of 1180. Have a high school GPA of 3.0. 
2. Have an ACT of 28 or higher and meet the ACT college readiness benchmarks scores equaling or exceeding 18 for English, 22 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 23 for Science OR SAT score the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT AT verbal + mathematics score of 1310.

• Amount: $6,500 over 4 years
• Deadline: September 1, 2022

Upcoming scholarships

South Dakota Solid Waste Management Association (SDWMA) Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: High school seniors planning on a trade that supports the protection and enhancement of our natural resources and environment, the solid waste industry and/or related fields. Preference given to South Dakota residents enrolling/enrolled in South Dakota institutions
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: January 15 of each year

Gordon Horgen Scholarship

• Eligibility: Native American high school seniors or college sophomores planning on going into the teaching profession
• Amount: $750
• Deadline: February 15 of each year

Dakota Corps Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Graduates of South Dakota high schools with at least a 2.8 GPA and an ACT score of 27 or greater (or the SAT equivalent). Upon college graduation, scholarship earners must agree, in writing, to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical need occupation
  
• Amount: Full cost
• Deadline: February 1 of each year

Additional South Dakota scholarship resources

School-specific scholarships

Be sure to check out your school’s website for institution-specific scholarships, such as South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, and South Dakota Mines. 

Build Dakota Scholarship Fund

Full-cost scholarships for South Dakota students attending a South Dakota technical college. There are different programs for each school.

Summary of South Dakota scholarships

1. South Dakota Farm Bureau Scholarship
2. South Dakota Bankers Association Scholarship
3. South Dakota Engineering Society Central Chapter Scholarship
4. South Dakota Retailers Scholarship Program
5. Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship
6. South Dakota Golf Association Scholarships
7. South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
8. South Dakota Solid Waste Management Association (SDWMA) Scholarship Program
9. Gordon Horgen Scholarship
10. Dakota Corps Scholarship Program