​Need Based Scholarship Program

The South Dakota Needs Based Grant Program (SDNBGP) was established with the passage of Senate Bill 237; whereby interest earned from a one-time investment of $1.5 million in state monies will be used to fund the grant program.  In 2016, the Legislature appropriated another $3.3 million one-time investment in state monies.

No specific application form will be required to receive funds; however to be eligible students will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), and then work with Financial Aid Directors at the participating institutions will use their information to determine those students on their campus that have the highest amount of unmet need after determining other grants/scholarship, tuition reductions, and expected family contributions.  The scholarship program will allow campus administrators to make awards of $500 to $2,000 to help lower the educational costs for students. Dollars will be allocated to each institution based on the percentage of Pell eligible students enrolled at that institution.  In the future, the interest that is earned from the investment placed in the Education Enhancement Trust Fund will be used to fund the program.  It is estimated that the interest from this fund will provide approximately $200,000 worth of scholarship funding each year, and when matched by participating institutions, it shall provide for approximately $800,000 worth of need based funding. 

Current Participating Institutions

• Augustana University
• Black Hills State University
• Dakota State University
• Dakota Wesleyan University
• ​Lake Area Technical College
• Mitchell Technical College
• Mount Marty University
• Northern State University
• Oglala Lakota College
• South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
• South Dakota State University
• Southeast Technical College
• University of Sioux Falls
• University of South Dakota
• Western Dakota Technical College