South Dakota Scholarships
Living or studying in South Dakota qualifies you for scholarships that most students never see: statewide awards restricted to SD residents, where the applicant pool is a fraction of any national contest. These verified awards sit on top of the national scholarships and South Dakota's own state aid programs, so treat them as one layer of a larger funding plan.
- Open scholarships
- 3
- Median award
- $2,500
- Largest award
- $2,500
- No essay required
- 1
Better Business Bureau Students of Integrity Scholarship
$2,500Due Jan 30, 2027High school seniors who reside in the Greater Des Moines, Quad Cities, or Siouxland regions served by BBB Greater Iowa may apply for the Students of Integrity Scholarship. Six $2,500 scholarships are awarded annually. Submit a 1,000-word essay on an ethical decision-making situation and your personal definition of integrity, school involvement details, future education plans, a transcript, and two letters of recommendation (only one from school personnel). Applications are judged on essay quality, school involvement, and recommendations.
Essay written for youBill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Up to $1,500Annual: May 15Private pilots of all ages who hold a current Private Pilot Certificate and reside in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio may apply for advanced aviation training support through the Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship. One award of up to $1,500 is granted annually. The fund was established in memory of Bill Cowden to help pilots pursue higher ratings when financial resources are limited. Submit a professional resume, one aviation-related letter of recommendation, and a one-page essay on your reasons for pursuing advanced aviation training. Applications are accepted from March 15 through May 15.
Essay written for youArdell Bjugstad Scholarship
Amount variesDue Feb 28, 2027High school seniors who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe with a reservation in South Dakota or North Dakota may apply. You must be a resident of South Dakota or North Dakota and plan to pursue agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences, or a natural resources degree at any postsecondary institution. Award amounts and the number of recipients vary. Funds are distributed to the institution in two installments per semester. Apply through the South Dakota Board of Regents Scholarship Portal. The program supports freshman Native American students in agriculture and natural resources fields.
No essay required
See all 3 scholarships you qualify for
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Common questions
How many South Dakota scholarships are there?
Award Scholar currently lists 3 verified scholarships for South Dakota students, with amounts and deadlines checked against each sponsor's official page. The median award is around $2,500, and the largest reaches $2,500.
Do these scholarships require essays?
Not all of them. 1 of the current awards need no essay, so they take minutes to apply to. The essay-based ones tend to be less crowded and pay more, and Award Scholar can draft those essays in your own voice.
What South Dakota financial aid exists beyond scholarships?
South Dakota runs its own aid programs, including South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, administered by South Dakota Board of Regents. File the FAFSA (No fixed state deadline published. Check with your school's financial aid office and file early.) to unlock them, then stack private scholarships on top. See the full South Dakota financial aid guide for deadlines and eligibility.
Can South Dakota students also win national scholarships?
Yes. Statewide awards restrict the applicant pool to South Dakota residents, which improves your odds, but they are one layer. Most winning students combine state-restricted awards, national scholarships that match their profile, and state aid.
When is the next deadline?
The next verified deadline in this group is January 30, 2027. Deadlines are spread across the whole year, so a miss is never fatal — new windows open every month.