South Dakota Scholarships

Incoming first-year and transfer students from WUE-eligible Western states who are admitted to the University of New Mexico are automatically considered for the Western Undergraduate Exchange Plus program. Eligible students need a 3.0 GPA or 20 ACT (1030 SAT). WUE Plus reduces non-resident tuition to the New Mexico resident rate, with a value of up to $23,149 per year. The award is renewable for up to four years with 15 credits and a 2.5 GPA each fall and spring semester. No separate scholarship application is required, but applying by your admission deadline improves consideration.

Automatic WUE nursing award for incoming nonresident first-year students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents from a participating WUE state or territory, hold an unweighted GPA of 3.90 to 4.00, and are Pre-Nursing or Nursing majors. The scholarship covers 150% of resident tuition, saving about $16,339 per year for up to four years with full-time enrollment and a 3.00 renewal GPA. Construction Management, Radiological Science, alternative fee, and fully online majors are ineligible. Admission files must be complete by December 15 for fall.

LGBTQ+ students at least 17 years old who are from or attending school in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Native Nations within those states may apply for PFund Foundation scholarships. Awards range from $1,000 to $12,000 for students pursuing a GED, community college, four-year college, graduate school, trade school, certificate program, or apprenticeship. Funds are distributed directly to recipients. Apply online during the annual application window, typically mid-January through early March. Submit proof of enrollment or admission for the coming academic year. Recipients must provide an IRS Form W9. A community review panel selects awardees notified in June.

Students in grades 6 through 12 who reside in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin may enter ADL Midwest's annual First Amendment Freedoms Art and Essay Contest. Submit a two-page essay or artwork on a First Amendment theme. Up to eight prizes are awarded, with first-place winners receiving up to $5,000 and second-place winners $1,000 by grade category. Judges score creativity, originality, and understanding of the First Amendment.

South Dakota artists age 18 or older with at least two years of residency in South Dakota or on the state's nine federally recognized tribal reservations may apply for merit fellowships. Applicants must not be full-time students pursuing high school, undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees. Only one artist grant category may be submitted per cycle. Fellowships award $5,000 in unrestricted support recognizing past artistic achievement and encouraging future growth. No cash match is required. Grant activities occur during the July 1 through June 30 funding period following the March 1 deadline. Applications are due March 1 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time through the SDAC GoSmart portal, with an optional draft review deadline February 10. The portal opens January 1 each year. The South Dakota Arts Council is the state arts agency funded by the State of South Dakota and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Annual scholarships of $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 awarded to five South Dakota students enrolled at any postsecondary institution in South Dakota who demonstrate interest in beef production and promotion. Applications open each December for the following academic cycle. Awards are paid directly to the student's institution. The program identifies future beef industry leaders through academic achievement and cattle industry involvement.

Need-based scholarship for South Dakota residents pursuing a bachelor's degree at SDSU Brookings who plan to live and work in South Dakota after graduation. Awards typically range from $3,000 to $5,000 and are renewable up to five years for students who maintain a 2.0 GPA, demonstrate continued financial need via FAFSA, and complete required promissory paperwork. Recipients must commit in writing to three years of post-graduation South Dakota residency and employment or the award converts to a loan.

Endowed nursing scholarship in the SDSU College of Nursing established by alumna Selma Kendrick to support registered members of South Dakota tribes. In the most recent award cycle the fund provided two scholarships of nearly $5,000 each. Apply through the College of Nursing scholarship process in MyState; applications are typically due toward the beginning of spring semester for the following academic year. Recipients must be admitted to the nursing major at SDSU Brookings.

High school seniors and trade students pursuing vocational degrees in fields such as commercial driver's license, heavy equipment operations, diesel technology, environmental technology, or GPS/computer technology may apply, with preference for South Dakota residents studying at South Dakota colleges. Four scholarships of $4,000 are awarded annually. Applicants should intend to enroll for the fall semester and desire a career in the solid waste industry or related fields. Part-time study may be considered with good cause. The South Dakota Solid Waste Management Association (SDSWMA) supports workforce development in an industry facing shortages of drivers, operators, and technicians.

High school seniors or undergraduate or graduate students in business continuity, cybersecurity, governance risk and compliance, or physical security programs who reside in or attend school in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin may apply. Twelve awards are granted: four at $3,000 and eight at $1,000. UMSA board members, foundation staff, committee members, and their immediate family are not eligible. Submit the online application and essay by February 28. Finalists may be phone-interviewed in March.