South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship Program

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

Updated College Prep Flyer

Credit Hour Requirements

Participating Institutions

Augustana College	Black Hills State University
Colorado Technical University	Dakota State University
Dakota Wesleyan University	Kilian Community College
Lake Area Technical Institute	Mount Marty College
Mitchell Technical Institute	National American University
Northern State University	Presentation College
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology	South Dakota State University
Southeast Technical Institute	University of South Dakota
University of Sioux Falls	Western Dakota Technical Institute

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