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.
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