South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship rewards academically strong South Dakota high school graduates with up to $7,500 toward study at a university, college or technical school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission with a campus in South Dakota. Students establish eligibility in one of two ways. The first requires an ACT composite or superscore of 24, or SAT of 1180, together with either the Advanced Honors Endorsement and a 3.0 unweighted GPA, or completion of the required high school courses with no final grade below a C and a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The second requires an ACT of 28, or SAT of 1310, with no curriculum or GPA condition. Applicants must be South Dakota residents when they graduate and enter the program within five years, or within a year of military release. Recipients do not reapply, but each semester they must hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA and reach credit benchmarks of 30, 60 and 90 hours before later terms. Missing the credit benchmark can end eligibility permanently.