South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by South Dakota Board of Regents

In 2003, the South Dakota Legislature established the Regents Scholarship Program, a commendable initiative aimed at providing the state's most academically gifted high school graduates with affordable access to higher education. This program covers any university, college, or technical school in South Dakota that holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The following year, the Legislature rebranded the scholarship as the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship (SDOS) and authorized funding from the state's Education Enhancement Trust Fund, with the first beneficiaries being the high school graduating class of 2004.

For students interested in applying for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, the application process is straightforward. The application form can be found on the Scholarship Portal of the SD Board of Regents. It is advisable for students to complete their applications by June 1st for the Fall term and November 1st for the Spring term. However, applications can still be accepted until September 1st for the Fall term and January 15th for the Spring term.

Students who initially attended an accredited institution outside South Dakota but returned within two years of their high school graduation (or two years after active military service) are also eligible. These students must meet the initial eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship, as well as maintain their GPA and credit-hour load while studying out of state. If they return to South Dakota and apply for the Opportunity Scholarship, they may receive a partial award.

Eligibility for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship can be achieved in two ways. Option 1 requires meeting ACT, GPA, and curriculum requirements, while Option 2 requires meeting ACT requirements only. Please note that these requirements are set by the South Dakota Legislature and must be met to qualify for the scholarship. The ACT Super Score must be officially reported and not manually calculated by the student, parent, high school, or campus.

Starting in Fall 2023, the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship will provide up to $7,500 over four years to qualifying students attending an eligible higher education institution in South Dakota. Recipients can participate in the program for the equivalent of four academic years (eight consecutive fall and spring terms), or until they attain a baccalaureate degree.

The following institutions are participating in the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship program:

Regental Universities:
- Black Hills State University
- Dakota Wesleyan University
- Northern State University
- South Dakota Mines
- South Dakota State University
- University of South Dakota

Technical Colleges:
- Lake Area Technical College
- Mitchell Technical College
- Southeast Technical College
- Western Dakota Technical College

Private Universities:
- Augustan University
- Dakota State University
- Mount Marty University
- University of Sioux Falls