To qualify for any of the Federal Financial Aid Programs, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov and meet any federal and institutional eligibility requirements. Students must be degree-seeking in a program that is eligible for Federal Financial Aid. Information about awarding criteria can be found in SDSU's Financial Aid Awarding Policy.
South Dakota State University (SDSU) participates in the following Federal Financial Aid Programs:
- Pell Grant
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant
- TEACH Grant
- Work-Study
- Direct Loan (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS)
- Nursing & Health Professions Loans
SDSU's FAFSA Priority Filing Date is March 1 of the prior school year. For example, students applying for aid for the fall 2023 term, should file the FAFSA by March 1, 2023 to meet the FAFSA Priority Filing Date. Students should file on or before the FAFSA priority filing date to be considered for Federal Work-Study and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.
See Types of Aid for additional information about Federal Financial Aid Programs.
Scholarships
SDSU provides scholarships to many students. Information about how to apply can be found on Scholarships.
Private and Alternative Loans
Students who need additional funds to help cover their costs of attendance may apply for private and alternative loans. SDSU does not maintain a preferred lender list but we do provide a list of lenders used by SDSU students in recent years. For additional information and a link to our lender list, please visit Alternative and Private Loans.