What is the Jump Start Scholarship Program?

Overview

During the 2011 Session, HB 1175 introduced the Jump Start Scholarship. The legislature approved the creation of the Jump Start Scholarship program which is designed to provide a student who graduates from a public high school in three years or less to receive a scholarship funded with a portion of the money saved by the state in state aid to education funding pursuant to chapter 13-13. 

As a result of the student's early graduation, if the student enrolls at any college, university, or technical school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota, the student will be eligible for $1,500 to be distributed equally across both the Fall and Spring semesters during their first year of post-secondary enrollment. 

No student who enrolls in a high school for all or any part of a fourth year is eligible for the Jump Start Scholarship program. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Jump Start Scholarship program, a student shall:

1. Be a resident of South Dakota;

2. Complete the requirements of the recommended high school program as established by the Board of Education pursuant to §13-1-12.1, and be awarded a high school diploma by a public high school in three years or less;

3. Have attended a public high school in South Dakota on a full-time basis for at least two semesters prior to graduating; and 

4. Within one year of graduating from high school, excluding any time served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, enroll in a college, university, or technical school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota. 

Scholarship Application and Deadline

The Jump Start Scholarship application is released on the SD Board of Regents Scholarship Portal for students to complete. 

To apply, students will log in to the SD Board of Regents Scholarship Portal. 

South Dakota Codified Laws

South Dakota Codified Laws 

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Information

BOR Scholarship Office: Contact Us