The South Dakota Legislature authorized the Regents Scholarship Program in 2003 to allow South Dakota’s most academically accomplished high school graduates to receive an affordable education at any university, college, or technical school in South Dakota that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2004, the Legislature renamed the scholarship the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship and authorized funding from the state of South Dakota’s Education Enhancement Trust Fund, beginning with high school graduating classes in 2004.
2010 Legislative Changes
A number of changes were made to the statutes that govern the Opportunity Scholarship program during the 2010 Legislative Session. Although the funding for the program remained the same (legislation to prorate or use an different allocation formula failed to garner support), significant changes were made to the initial and continuing eligibility criteria. Specifically, a new set of curriculum requirements apply to those students entering high school after July 2010, and students are now asked to meet credit hour thresholds each year rather than complete 15 credit hours each term. For additional information about changes to these two statutes please follow the links below.
Initial Eligibility Curriculum
Participating Institutions
Scholarship Amounts
The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship provides $5,000 over four years to a
qualifying student who attends an eligible higher education institution in South
Dakota. Recipients may participate
in the South Dakota 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:
$1,000 – 1st year of attendance
$1,000 – 2nd year of attendance
$1,000 – 3rd year of attendance
$2,000 – 4th year of attendance