South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
There is no limit to the number of students who may receive this scholarship. If you meet the requirements, you receive the scholarship. If you have questions regarding this scholarship, please see your high school counselor.
The SD Opportunity Scholarship provides up to $6500 over four years to a qualifying student who attends an eligible higher education institution in South Dakota. Recipients may participate in the SD Opportunity Scholarship program for the equivalent of four academic years (eight consecutive fall and spring terms), or until attaining a baccalaureate degree. During each academic year, one-half of the annual scholarship award will be distributed at the beginning of the fall semester and the other half distributed at the beginning of the spring semester:
$1,300 - 1st year of attendance
$1,300 - 2nd year of attendance
$1,300 - 3rd year of attendance
$2,600 - 4th year of attendance
Initial Eligibility Requirements
Be a resident of South Dakota at time of high school graduation.
Have an ACT composite score of 24 or higher before the beginning of post-secondary education. If using a SAT score, the sum of the verbal and math scores on the SAT must be at least 1090.
Complete high school course requirements with no final grade below a "C" and a cum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale prior to graduation.
Effective for those students entering into postsecondary education for the first time on or after August 2013, the curriculum requirements specified in section 3 above are not required for any student who has received a composite score on the ACT of at least 28 and meets the ACT college readiness benchmarks scores equaling or exceeding 18 for English, 22 for Reading 22 for Math, and 23 for Science.
Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by the Learning Commission of the NCACS and that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.
Enter into the program within 5 years of high school graduation, or within 1 year of the student's release from active military service (if that release is within 5 years of the date of the student's high school graduation). Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or tech school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive partial award.
For more information on requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship go to the SD board of Regents web site at http://sdos.sdbor.edu/