South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
Offered by South Dakota Board of Regents
About this scholarship
The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship provides up to $7,500 across four years to academically accomplished South Dakota high school graduates attending an eligible in-state institution. Awards may continue for as many as eight consecutive fall and spring semesters, ending earlier if the student completes a bachelor's degree. Students apply through the South Dakota Board of Regents Scholarship Portal and submit an official high school transcript. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; the firm deadline for fall enrollment is September 1, with June 1 preferred, while spring enrollment applications are due January 15, with November 1 preferred. Applicants must have been South Dakota residents when they graduated and enroll at a South Dakota university, college, or technical college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Qualification can be established through the state's approved high school curriculum and test-score pathway, including an ACT composite of at least 24 or SAT total of at least 1180, together with the specified GPA or coursework conditions. An alternative higher ACT pathway applies under the program's graduation-year rules. Recipients must continue meeting enrollment and academic requirements to retain later installments.
Eligibility
- Be a South Dakota resident at the time of high school graduation
- Graduate from high school under the program's applicable year and curriculum rules
- Enroll at an eligible Higher Learning Commission-accredited South Dakota university, college, or technical college
- Qualify through the approved curriculum and academic pathway or the alternative ACT pathway for your graduation year
- For the standard test pathway, earn at least a 24 ACT composite or 1180 SAT total and meet the specified GPA or coursework conditions
- Provide an official high school transcript with the application
- Maintain the continuing enrollment and academic requirements for renewal
- Apply by September 1 for fall enrollment or January 15 for spring enrollment