Exclusive South Dakota Scholarships to Apply to in 2025

About scholarships in South Dakota

There are over 895,000 people living in South Dakota. Of the 51,809 college students in South Dakota, there are about 33,600 students attending public universities in the circuit of the South Dakota Board of Regents. 137,468 students are enrolled in K-12 public education, which was a significant increase from the enrollment numbers of 2020 recorded by the South Dakota Department of Education. The average acceptance rate of colleges in South Dakota is 85%. With the increasing number of K-12 students in South Dakota, there are more opportunities opening up for students planning to pursue college educations. Financial stress put on by COVID-19 has had an impact on the whole nation, so scholarship awards and federal student aid are available to help provide financial assistance to any student looking to attend an eligible higher education institution.

South Dakota students and student debt

College costs can seem daunting, especially since costs have been increasing throughout the country. When adjusted for inflation, the increase of college costs is 16.1%, since the start of the 21st century. As the cost of education rises, the nation's student loan debt increases with it. As of now, the national student loan debt totals $1.75 trillion. Financial aid is available to help students avoid future debt or pay off loans already taken out. Bold.org can help you find scholarship opportunities to help lessen the burden of student loans.

South Dakota student demographics

In South Dakota, 84.6% of the population is white, so there isn't as much diversity as there is in some other states. In comparison, 76.3% of the nation's population is white. It can be assumed that students have a relatively similar distribution to the racial diversity of the state as a whole. Racial diversity in South Dakota universities hasn't been recently documented, but part of this is because South Dakota has a small population. On the rankings of the most populous states in the country, South Dakota is 46th down.

As for the income and poverty statistics for the state of South Dakota's population, 11.6% of people are below the poverty line. This is close to the national percentage of 11.4%.

Education opportunities in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to 31 colleges and universities. 12 of these schools are public institutions, and the other 19 are private schools. Between public schools, private programs, technical schools, and other opportunities in South Dakota, students of all interests can find a place to fulfill their educational goals. The student-to-teacher ratio at South Dakota universities averages 12.14:1.

High school seniors planning to attend college in South Dakota have various 2-4-year programs that accept different qualifying students with various levels of academic achievement and that demonstrate financial need of varying degrees. Popular colleges in South Dakota include the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and Augustana University. Whether you are coming into college for your first fall semester or decide to transfer before the spring semester, there are opportunities in South Dakota to succeed at a variety of great schools.

Costs of a college education in South Dakota

For the 2021-2022 school year, the average cost of tuition for in-state South Dakota students was $7,957 and the out-of-state tuition average was $12,670. Compared to the national average of tuition costs, South Dakota has higher in-state tuition costs but lower out-of-state tuition costs. In-state tuition costs in the United States average to be $6,617, whereas out-of-state tuition is an average of $18,070, which is over twice as much as the in-state costs. South Dakota doesn't follow this trend, with out-of-state tuition costs significantly lower than the national average.

Tuition isn't the only cost associated with college. There is a cost of living that includes housing and food, which students have to factor in when saving for college. Other expenses, such as textbooks and computer programs also add to the overall cost of college. Therefore, when high school students prepare for the next step in their education, they should keep in mind that college costs more than the price of tuition.

Student debt in South Dakota

There are 113,000 residents of South Dakota currently with student loan debt. The average loan debt is $31,900 per borrower. This is significantly less than the average per person throughout the whole country, which is $39,351. Despite being lower than the national average, this debt is significant. 73% of students graduating college in South Dakota leave with student debt. And with an average above $30,000, a huge amount of South Dakota's population will be paying off student loan debt for years to come.

The best scholarships for South Dakota students

Students in South Dakota have opportunities to earn scholarships specific to their state and/or school. For high school seniors who have exhibited academic excellence, the state legislature provides the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. For students attending the 16 institutions, the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship can help pay for one or more years of college.

Bold.org offers scholarships for students specifically attending college in South Dakota. Take a look at some of these opportunities below.

Loxy Burckhard Love is Kind Memorial Scholarship

It is critical that the values of compassion and selflessness are encouraged amongst students so that future generations can make their communities and the world itself a better place. This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Loxy Burckhard by supporting students who live out the values of love, kindness, and dedication to their communities.

Tim Gjoraas Science and Education Scholarship

Tim Gjoraas was a beloved science teacher for more than twenty years who passed away from cancer early in 2021. Throughout his life and career, Tim was passionate about educating and encouraging his students and would have wanted to leave behind a legacy of helping future scientists and educators. This scholarship aims to support high school and undergraduate students in South Dakota who are pursuing careers in education or science.

Additional scholarships that students in South Dakota should consider

When it comes down to it, each student's scholarship journey is all their own. The opportunities are there, but it takes persistence to seek them out. You won't win every scholarship you apply for, but the more opportunities you take a chance on, the more likely you are to receive some form of financial aid. Focus on what is best for you by finding scholarships that fit where you are at. Take a look at your strengths, weaknesses, and interests in order to know which scholarships are best to apply for.

Scholarships are offered on platforms such as Bold.org to students across the United States. While these are great opportunities, don't limit yourself to scholarships open to the masses - find scholarships in your local community or through your school. You are more likely to be successful if you look for the best opportunities both locally and wide-scale.

If you are struggling with finding a good place to start, apply to some of these scholarships, and get the ball rolling. Once you understand the process, it only gets easier.

Take a look at some scholarships available for you to apply for now:

1. “A Courageous Spirit” No-Essay Scholarship
2. #FinancialFreedom No-Essay Scholarship
3. Lo Easton’s “Wrong Answers Only” Scholarship
4. 100 Bold Points No-Essay Scholarship
5. Lillian's and Ruby's Way Scholarship

Scholarships for high school students in South Dakota

High school is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the scholarship process. Since high school students are beginning to plan for life after graduation, there are opportunities specifically to help them prepare and succeed. The high school scholarships Bold.org offers high schoolers the chance to start earning financial aid for college. There are scholarships open to all high school students, while others are meant for students in a specific year of their schooling. Explore the pages below to find scholarships best for where you are at.

• Scholarships for high school students
• Scholarships for high school freshmen
• Scholarships for high school sophomores
• Scholarships for high school juniors

The scholarships listed on these group pages are only the beginning. Bold.org releases new scholarship opportunities every week, and there are many individualized scholarships that you can find by browsing the scholarship search page, which can help give you a good idea of where to start. With how much there is to explore, learn, and achieve, it can seem overwhelming, but the only way to get used to the application process is by actually doing it. You can get started by checking out the following scholarships!

1. Moriah Janae Dance Grant
2. HPF-RYW Orange Heart Scholarship
3. Bold Meaning of Life Scholarship

South Dakota scholarships for high school seniors

High school seniors are at a crucial junction in their lives. It's a time for deciding what you want to do for a career, if you want to go to college, and where you will go if you choose to take the route of higher education. To help high school seniors with their preparation for college, donors open many scholarships directed specifically toward students ready to take that next step. 

The scholarships for high school seniors provided on Bold.org are an excellent way to start planning for the financial aspect of your future.

1. Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
2. Davila Scholarship
3. Frances Loretta Memorial Scholarship

South Dakota scholarships for college students

Once you get to college, a whole new slew of scholarships will open up to you. Since college is the time that you are paying the most money for education, there are opportunities to help you get on top of your financial situation. Be creative in your search. Also, take a look at the scholarships for undergraduate students and scholarships for students in graduate school listed on Bold.org. These scholarships are on a broad scale and are open to most - if not all - students in that educational bracket.

At the same time, look locally. Many colleges offer specific scholarships programs within their school that are aimed toward giving financial assistance to their own students. Check with the financial aid office at your school or ask your advisor what kinds of scholarships are available for you. By looking both nationally and locally for scholarships, you are giving yourself the opportunity to be successful in multiple capacities. You can plan ahead and lower the amount of student debt you walk away with after college if you use your resources.

1. Forget Your Student Debt. No-Essay Grant.
2. #FinancialFreedom Scholarship
3. HSINTELLIGENCE Minority / Indigenous Nurse Leader Scholarship

South Dakota scholarships for college freshmen

College freshmen are new to the college experience, what it's like to study at a level, and unfortunately, what it means to pay the high costs of living and studying at a university. Freshman year is the perfect time to begin learning about college, and scholarships are no exception. Use your freshman year as a way to get familiar with the scholarship process. Bold.org offers a list of scholarships for college freshmen so that early college students can get ahead on preparing for the financial aspect of school. Current college freshmen can also begin looking ahead and exploring the scholarships for college sophomores, which will be available for them next year.

1. Dr. Magidson Memorial Theater Scholarship
2. KBK Artworks Scholarship
3. Bold Financial Literacy Scholarship

Frequently asked questions about scholarships in South Dakota

Whether you are new to the scholarship process or have done it a dozen times, questions can arise as you plan for your financial future. This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions South Dakota students have about scholarships.

Are there South Dakota scholarships for teachers?

The pandemic has brought to light the importance of teachers and how much students rely on them for education, both in technical schooling as well as in life lessons. Teachers have an incredibly important job, so there are education scholarships that seek to help future teachers as they prepare to take on the incredible task of passing on knowledge to future generations. On top of the scholarships listed on the education page, there is also an 'Education' filter under the 'Category' section of the scholarship search page.

How to apply for scholarships in South Dakota?

Applying for scholarships on Bold.org takes only a few simple steps. The first is to create your free account. This can be done by clicking on any of the listed scholarships, for clicking any one of them will take you directly to the page that allows you to sign up. From there, fill out your profile as thoroughly as possible. The more experiences, background, and interests you list on your profile, the more scholarships will be available to you.

Once you have made your profile the best reflection of yourself possible, it is time to go out and find scholarships. Use the scholarship search page to help you find scholarships that you are best suited for. The 'category' filter helps you find scholarships based on your major, background, hobbies, and experiences. Additionally, you can narrow down scholarships based on who they are open to, allowing you to see scholarships open specifically to your education level. Feel free to bookmark scholarships and come back to them later.

Keep in mind that different scholarships have different types of applications. Some are simple, no-essay scholarships that only require a couple of clicks to apply. Most scholarships are accompanied by an essay prompt. If you struggle with how to start your scholarship essays, take a look at Bold.org's best tips for writing a good scholarship essay.

Prepare yourself for what the application process is like so that you have a basis of knowledge when you begin applying.

When can I start applying?

High schoolers are at the perfect point in their schooling careers to begin preparing for college. Students 14 and older can register for a free Bold.org account and find scholarships that can help pay for college. Start your search any time of year, since Bold.org has new scholarships opening every week. There are opportunities year-round for students to apply for scholarships, so feel free to start anytime!

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Different scholarships have different requirements in order to submit a scholarship application. In order to find out if you are one of the eligible applicants, look at the eligibility requirements listed on the scholarship's description page. Before you apply, make sure you meet all of the necessary requirements, so that you don't spend time working on an application that you won't be allowed to submit.

Are scholarships counted as income?

When you are awarded a scholarship, it is sent directly to your university. If you aren't enrolled in a school yet, your scholarship awards will be held in an account for you until you choose a school. Therefore, since you aren't directly receiving the scholarship winnings, scholarship money cannot be counted as income.