Initial Eligibility Requirements

How do students qualify for the SD Opportunity Scholarship?

Students may establish their initial eligibility in the Opportunity Scholarship program by meeting the requirements in one of two ways.

Option 1 (lower ACT requirement with curriculum and GPA Requirement)

• RESIDENT STATUS: Be a resident of South Dakota at the time of high school graduation

• ACT SCORE: Have an ACT Composite or Super Score* of 24 or higher before the beginning of post secondary education.  If using a SAT score, the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT must be at least 1180.

• CURRICULUM / GPA: Earn the Advanced Honors Endorsement with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Alternatively, complete the high school course requirements with no final grade below a "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (grade of "B") prior to graduation.

• ATTENDANCE: Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.

• TIMING:  Enter into the program within 5 years of high school graduation, or within 1 year of the student's release from active-duty military service (if that release is within 5 years of the date of the student's high school graduation).

  • Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or technical school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive partial award.

Option 2 (higher ACT requirement, but no curriculum or GPA requirement)

• RESIDENT STATUS: Be a resident of South Dakota at the time of high school graduation

• ACT SCORE:  Have an ACT Composite or Super Score* of 28 or higher and meet the ACT college readiness benchmarks scores equaling or exceeding 18 for English, 21 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 24 for Science. If using an SAT score, the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT must be at least 1310

  • Students who are graduating in 2026 must submit a minimum Composite or Super Score of 28 with minimum subscores of 18 for English, 21 for Reading, 22 for Math. No science subscore is required, due to the transition phases of ACT changes.
  • Students who are graduating in 2027 and beyond must submit a minimum Composite or Super Score of 28 with minimum subscores of 18 for English, 21 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 24 for Science.

• ATTENDANCE: Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.

• TIMING:  Enter into the program within 5 years of high school graduation, or within 1 year of the student's release from active-duty military service (if that release is within 5 years of the date of the student's high school graduation).

  • Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or technical school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive partial award.

These requirements listed are established by the South Dakota Legislature and must be met to qualify for the scholarship.