The State of South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore, and numerous opportunities for college students searching for scholarships.

College students of South Dakota have the option of earning a college degree at six public colleges, and Universities, or many other private colleges. South Dakota students, who decide to enroll in a public college, can expect to receive the most scholarships.

The South Dakota Department of Education administers many publicly, and privately funded college scholarships based on academic merit, financial need and specific areas of study. College students in South Dakota need to complete the FAFSA as soon as they can; to ensure they are eligible for need based scholarships. Money is tight for college, and students who submit their applications early will have the best chance of receiving college scholarships.

South Dakota Department of Education

The South Dakota Department of Education is committed to helping students achieve their dreams with educational resources, fellowships, internships, scholarships and grants. All of the college scholarships administered by the Department of Education are listed on their website, as well as eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application forms. Students should check the website frequently for any changes in dates or eligibility requirements.

South Dakota students with financial needs should make every effort, to take great care in filling out their FAFSA application. The slightest mistake can set you back weeks in processing financial aid, and scholarships requests. Additional scholarship applications needed for individual scholarships, are available on the South Dakota Department of Education website. A few South Dakota college scholarships are highlighted below:

Dakota Corps Scholarship

• The Dakota Corps Scholarship are merit based scholarships, created by the governor of South Dakota, to pay the full costs of a college education for those students earning a degree in a critical need profession, such as nursing and teaching. South Dakota college students, who have at least a 2.8 GPA and an ACT score of 24, are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Students are required to work, in South Dakota after graduation in their chosen critical need profession. Applications for these college scholarships are available online, as well as specific eligibility criteria.

Richard Hagen Minerva Memorial State Scholarship

• The Richard Hagen Minerva Memorial State Scholarship awards college scholarships to Native American students, whose tribal reservations are located in South Dakota. Students of South Dakota, who qualify, need to submit an application accompanied by a written essay. These scholarships, range from $1,000 to $2,500, per semester for four years, providing students maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

• The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarships award free college scholarship money, to college-bound students that completed a rigorous course of study, while in high school. Additional requirements for these scholarships include, an ACT score of 24, and 3.0 GPA upon high school graduation. South Dakota college students need to maintain a 3.0 GPA to renew these scholarships each year. These scholarships, award $5,000 over the course of four years for a student’s chosen field of study at an accredited college.