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Due to delays with the 2024-25 FAFSA, SDSU is extending our FAFSA priority deadline to March 15, 2024. If you need assistance completing your FAFSA, please call our office at 605-688-4695 or schedule a virtual appointment to meet with one of our Financial Aid Advisors.

Schedule a Virtual Appointment

Applying for Aid

To determine how much financial aid you are eligible for, start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the form you will use whether you are applying for federal loans, work-study, grants or a combination of these.

Create your StudentAid.gov account. Students and any contributors will need their own accounts.

Fill out the FAFSA. SDSU's school code is 003471. Be sure to use your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card, or your application may be rejected. Go through entrance loan counseling ;and complete your Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov if you plan to use any of the loan funding offered through the FAFSA. If this is not finished, you will not receive the loan.

The FAFSA priority date at South Dakota State University is March 15, 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year. Students can still complete the FAFSA after this date however, students with completed FAFSAs before this date could be eligible for additional priority funding.

Keep in mind that if the information on your financial aid application does not accurately show your family's circumstances, or if your financial status has changed significantly, you should contact our office to discuss with a counselor if changes should be made.

See the videos below for help on each section of the FAFSA.

Starting the FAFSA

Personal Circumstances and Demographics

Financials

Select your Schools

Review, Sign and Submit

Verification Requirements

Students may be selected for verification. To see if you have any verification requirements, please log into your financial aid self service and follow these steps:

  • Select your campus.
  • Click on "eligibility".
  • Select the aid year.
  • Read each requirement and click on each item to access any forms you may be required to fill out.

General Eligibility Requirements

To receive federal financial aid, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Have a high school diploma or GED. Be admitted to SDSU as a degree seeking student (with enough credits to be at least a half-time student).

If you meet these requirements, complete the FAFSA to determine exactly what kind of offer you may receive.

  • Have a valid Social Security Number.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students here on a student visa (F1 or F2) or an exchange visitor visa (J1 or J2) are classified as non-eligible non-citizens and do not qualify for federal financial aid. The International Student Affairs Office can provide further information regarding financial assistance.
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18-24.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Financial Aid Self service

This can also be done in the financial aid self service.

  • Select a campus.
  • Click on "award".
  • Click "award for aid year"
  • Click on the "accept award offer" tab

Financial Aid Self Service

Watch the video below to see how to accept your award offer.

This can be done at StudentAid.gov. You will need to log in with your student FSA ID.

Complete MPN

This can be done at StudentAid.gov. You will need to log in with your student FSA ID.

Complete Entrance Loan Counseling

Your bill can be viewed before the start of the semester by going to SD ePay. You can look at your total bill and subtract the amount of financial aid that you will receive to determine your "out of pocket" costs. To cover your remaining balance, you can set up a payment plan with the cashiers office, have your parents apply for a Parent PLUS loan at StudentAid.gov or take out a loan with a private lender.

SD EPay      Parent PLUS Loan      Alternative Loans

South Dakota State University has committed to comply with the College Cost Transparency (CCT) initiative by 2/1/24. You can view more information on this initiative at