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University ScholarshipsScholarships are awarded on university, college and departmental levels. Because of our generous donors, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences awards around $230,000 annually. When combined with the departments within the college, we offer well over a half-million dollars in scholarships to our students.Returning students apply for scholarships by logging on to MyState. Click on the "Dashboard" tab, and then the scholarship application section is on the right side. All current students, whether eligible for the Jackrabbit Guarantee program or not, should submit this application before the Feb. 1 priority date to be eligible for scholarships the following school year.Incoming students should complete the SDSU Academic Scholarship Application Form the year prior to enrollment. Priority is given to applications received by Dec. 1. To apply for these scholarships, students complete the Scholarship Application Form.Special Scholarship ApplicationsSome scholarships/awards require additional information from applicants to satisfy criteria established by the donors. Information and applications are available in the Academic Programs Office in Berg Agricultural Hall 162. If you believe you qualify and wish to be considered for any of the scholarships or awards described below, please follow the instructions and apply. The sponsoring organizations for these scholarships are not part of, not endorsed by and exist independently of the South Dakota Board of Regents and South Dakota State University. The South Dakota Board of Regents and South Dakota State University are not responsible for acts, omissions or contracts of these organizations.Application due date May 1, 2025: Angus Foundation ScholarshipsApplication due date May 15, 2025: Minnesota Pork Board ScholarshipsApplication due date June 1, 2025: AgCountry Farm Credit Services Scholarship

South Dakota Opportunity ScholarshipAmount: $7,500 total, distributed over the course of four years.Eligibility: Must be a resident of South Dakota; have ACT composite or superscore of 24 or SAT score of 1180; complete specific high school curriculum requirements with no grade below a “C”; and cumulative HS GPA of at least 3.0.To apply: Applications can be found at South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship.Air Force ROTC ScholarshipAmount: 100% tuition and fees for entire undergrad (room and board not included), $900 annually for textbooks and $300 monthly allowance.Eligibility: Awarded to outstanding high school seniors who excel in the classroom and extracurricular activities. Must have an ACT composite of 26 or SAT score of 1240 and cumulative HS GPA of at least 3.0. Application process includes an interview for students with extensive leadership and extracurricular involvement. Applicants must also take the Air Force fitness test. More details can be found at AFROTC at SDSU and at the Air Force ROTC.To apply: Applications can be found at Air Force ROTC High School Application. High school senior application dates are June 1 – Jan. 14 annually.Army ROTC ScholarshipAmount: 100% tuition and fees for entire undergrad or $5,000 per semester, $600 per semester for books and $420 living allowance per month while in school.Eligibility:Be a U.S. citizen.Be between the ages of 17 and 26.Have a high school GPA of at least 2.50.Have a high school diploma or equivalent.Score a minimum of 1000 on the SAT (math/verbal) or 19 on the ACT (excluding the required writing test scores).Meet physical standards.Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (Army Reserve or Army National Guard).To apply: Applications can be found at Four-Year High School Scholarship. High school senior application dates are June 1 – Jan. 14 annually.Contact your high school counselor or the SDSU Army ROTC Department for more information.Dakota Corps ScholarshipAmount: Amount will vary – typically equal annually to full tuition and fees.Eligibility: Must be a resident of South Dakota; U.S Citizen or U.S national; have ACT composite score of 27; graduate from an accredited South Dakota high school with a GPA of at least 2.8; commitment to work in South Dakota in an identified critical need profession. More details can be found on the Dakota Corp Scholarship Program.To apply: Applications can be found at Dakota Corps Scholarship Program.Freedom ScholarshipAmount: $3,000-$5,000; Renewable but amounts may vary depending on student's financial need each year.Eligibility: Must be a resident of South Dakota. Financial need based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information. Recipients must enroll in a bachelor’s degree program and maintain full-time enrollment in both fall and spring semesters.To apply: Must complete the FAFSA with priority consideration to students who complete it on or before March 1.Hatterscheidt ScholarshipThe Hatterscheidt Scholarship will be awarded to five current seniors graduating from South Dakota high schools as a one-year award valued at $2,500. To be eligible for the Hatterscheidt Scholarship, a student must meet the following criteria:Must be a South Dakota Resident; graduating from a SD high school or home school.Must show financial need and must apply for Federal Student Aid.Must have average minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.Home school student must have a minimum ACT score of 18 or SAT of 960.Must be admitted to South Dakota State University for fall semester following graduation.Must plan to be a full time, main campus student planning to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.The 2025-26 application will be available late November. If you have questions or would like to apply, please email SDSU Scholarships email to secure the appropriate application. The deadline to apply for this scholarship will be March 15, 2025.Horatio Alger Denny Sanford ScholarshipThe Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship provides 25 awards at $10,000 each to be disbursed throughout a student’s collegiate career. Like all Horatio Alger Scholarships, the Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship assists high school students who have faced great obstacles in their young lives to overcome their adversities, attend a post-secondary institution and achieve success. To be eligible for the Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship a student must meet the following criteria:Be enrolled full-time as a high school senior in the United States with plans to enter South Dakota State University no later than the fall semester following graduation.Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree at South Dakota State University.Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required).Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities.Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity.Hold a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.Applications are accepted Dec. 1, 2024 - March 15, 2025. Students may apply at horatioalger.org/scholarships and click on the high school senior application. If there are questions or concerns about this application, please contact scholarships@horatioalger.org.Smithfield Foods ScholarshipAmount: Scholarships are need based, and the amount is determined by the SDSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, based on the unmet financial need demonstrated on the FAFSA form. This scholarship is renewable for a total of four years based on FAFSA calculations reviewed annually.Eligibility: Students must be admitted to an undergraduate program at SDSU, and be dependent children or grandchildren of current or retired employees of Smithfield Foods. Employees must have worked with the company a minimum of 18 months for their child or dependent grandchild to be eligible.To apply: Application can be found at Smithfield. Applications are due by May 15 each year.Additional OpportunitiesVisit the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid webpage for additional credible scholarship information. Students can find additional non-SDSU scholarship information at Fastweb and Scholarships.com.

Jackrabbit ACE First Bank & Trust Scholarship The Jackrabbit ACE First Bank & Trust Scholarship provides opportunities for economically disadvantaged high school juniors and seniors to enroll in reduced tuition dual credit courses at SDSU*. Enrolled dual credit students who qualify for the Jackrabbit ACE Scholarship will receive a scholarship that funds one reduced tuition dual credit course (up to five credits) each semester of their junior and senior year of high school and the summer between their junior and senior year. This scholarship will also cover the cost of textbooks for that one course.Students can pay for additional dual credit courses if they choose to enroll and they will also be eligible for the Jackrabbit Journey Scholarship if they enroll at SDSU as a first-time college student.Jackrabbit ACE First Bank & Trust Scholarship Eligibility Requirements Eligible students for the Jackrabbit ACE First Bank & Trust Scholarship must meet one of the following:Enrolled in or eligible for a federal free or reduced lunch program at school based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture income levels.Enrolled in Supplemental Security Income.Enrolled in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.Enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Enrolled in Special Supplemental Assistance Program (WIC).Students/families must provide evidence of current participation in one of the above programs as part of the application process.

Scholarship Application DetailsStudents should complete the below form, which should include a video performance of the student's choice, not to exceed 10 minutes. The priority deadline is February 15. Notifications will go out in mid-March. Scholarships will be awarded in $500 and $1000 increments.

Academic Excellence and Personal Leadership The typical Departmental scholarship size is between $500 and $1,000. The university also has a substantial scholarship program, which students are encouraged to apply for. It is possible to receive a scholarship from both the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and South Dakota State University. Scholarships are also available for sophomores, juniors and seniors. 

Apply for ScholarshipsFirst-time freshman and transfer scholarships are awarded through the Office of Admissions.The scholarship application for new incoming students enrolling in spring 2025, summer 2025, fall 2025 or spring 2026 is now available in the MyState portal. Priority for summer and fall 2025 is given to applications received on or before Dec. 1, 2024.Scholarship Application — Start term spring 2025, summer 2025, fall 2025 and spring 2026If you have not set up your MyState account, follow these steps:If you are a new user, follow the directions under the Technology Talk tab (located under the banner) of the MyState student portal and follow the steps under "Get SDSU Connected" to begin the process to pick up your account. You will need your SDSU Student ID number for this process. Once you reset your password and set up your DUO account, you will be able to sign in to MyState and your Jacks email using the password you just created. Already activated your MyState account? Great!If you've logged in to MyState, you can go to the upper right-hand corner of MyState and click on the "Sign-In" button to login to your student portal. You will use your Jacks email and DUO to login to MyState.In MyState, go to your Dashboard tab. Then look for the Scholarship Application section to access the 2025-26 Incoming First-Time and Transfer Student Scholarship Application!

Non-SDSU Scholarship ChecksIf you have a non-SDSU scholarship check to drop off, please:Write your student ID number on the front of the check.Endorse the check if it has been made out to you and SDSU.Mail your check to:SDSU Financial Aid and ScholarshipsEnrollment Services CenterBox 511ABrookings, SD 57007If your outside scholarship check will not be here or will not be on your account by the time the bill is due, please send our scholarship's office an email asking for a deferment on your bill. Please include your student ID number and when you expect the check to be in or the date you dropped it off. Once SDSU gets your scholarship, it can take us up to two weeks for us to apply it to your account. We will process checks in the order that we receive them.Where is My Scholarship?Contact Donor: First check if your Donor has sent the check to SDSU. Ask them when and where they sent the check.Contact Financial Aid Office: If it has been more than three weeks since funds were mailed to the correct address, contact the SDSU Financial Aid Office.Is Your Donor Requesting Documents?Scholarship donors may ask to verify your enrollment, your financial aid award, your financial need, or your cost of attendance budget before sending your scholarship funds. There are many ways to get information from donors including instant, self-serve options:Enrollment Verification: Need proof of enrollment? Get your enrollment verification instantly via your SDSU MyState Portal! Enrollment Verification available Aug. 31.Submit a form for Student Financial Services to complete: Submit your Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) forms or other forms from your scholarship donor or Tribal Organization. Reminder: Complete all Student Portions of form before submission! You can email these forms to SDSU Scholarships.Is your Donor sending funds directly to you?Complete the Non-SDSU Scholarship/Gift Aid Reporting Form – Students must report any outside funding other than Federal Financial Aid to Student Financial Services each award year to ensure students are receiving accurate funding. Some examples include scholarships (non-university, third-party guarantees, employer tuition assistance/reimbursement, or Tribal funding). Report estimated financial resources as soon as possible so that adjustments can be made in your award without delaying the disbursement process or requiring that you repay funds already released to you.For Donors: Tell SDSU who the student is and how to apply the scholarship!When sending scholarship checks, include:Student nameSDSU Student ID NumberAny instructions or requirements for disbursal including:Enrollment requirements including if funds are ok to release at less than full-time enrollment.If funds are all for one specific term or if funds should be split evenly between fall and spring semester.Scholarships received without instructions will be disbursed with the following policies:No Instructions for split between terms: the SDSU Scholarship Office will evenly split awards great than $2,500 between fall and spring. Awards of $2,500 and below will be applied to the current term only.No Enrollment requirements: SDSU will assume that the donor has no enrollment requirements, and the scholarship is ok to release at less than full time (Tribal Funds exception). Scholarships for students enrolled at least Half-Time for their programs (6+ credits for undergrads) will be disbursed. Students enrolled Less than Half-Time will have their funds held until donor is gives instructions. Donor will be asked if they grant permission for release of funds at Less than Half-Time enrollment or if the scholarship needs to be returned to donor.

Transfer ScholarshipsStudents who plan to transfer to SDSU from another post-secondary institution can complete our online transfer scholarship application.The scholarship application for new incoming students enrolling in the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 is now available in the MyState portal. Priority for Summer and Fall 2025 is given to applications received on or before Dec. 1, 2024.Scholarship Application — Start Term Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025 AND Spring 2026In MyState, go to your Dashboard tab. Then look for the Scholarship Application section to access the 2025-2026 Incoming First-Time and Transfer Student Scholarship Application.Transfer Student ScholarshipsAmount: Amounts vary.Eligibility: Applicants need to have completed college credit post-high school at a different post-secondary institution. Awards vary based on departmental major, financial need and academic success.To apply: For consideration, complete the Academic Scholarship Application.Freedom ScholarshipAmount: $3,000–$5,000; Renewable but amounts may vary depending on student's financial need each year.Eligibility: Must be a resident of South Dakota. Financial need based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information. Recipients must enroll in a bachelor’s degree program and maintain full-time enrollment in both fall and spring semesters.To apply: Must complete the FAFSA with priority consideration to students who complete it on or before March 1.J&J Sisco Scholarship (Beca J&J Sisco)Amount: Tuition and mandatory fees per year; renewable for a total of four years.Eligibility:A student that has lived in Mexico.A student that has knowledge of the Spanish language.A student that has knowledge of Mexican culture.A student demonstrating financial need.A student that is an incoming student.First preference shall be given to a first-generation student that meets the above criteria. The scholarship shall be used to cover the cost of tuition and fees. The scholarship is renewable as long as the student remains eligible and in good academic standing. Students will be chosen through a selection process that could include an interview.To apply: For consideration, complete the Academic Scholarship Application.Traducción en español:Qué Cubre?: El costo de matrícula y las cuotas obligatorias de cada año; renovable por un máximo de cuatro años.Requisitos de Elegibilidad:Un estudiante que haya vivido en México.Un estudiante que tenga conocimientos del idioma español.Un estudiante que tenga conocimientos de la cultura mexicana.Un estudiante que demuestre necesidad financiera.Un estudiante que sea estudiante entrante.Se dará primera preferencia a un estudiante de primera generación que cumpla con los criterios anteriores. La beca se utilizará para cubrir el costo de la matrícula y las cuotas obligatorias. La beca es renovable siempre que el estudiante siga siendo elegible y tenga buen desempeño académico. Los estudiantes serán elegidos mediante un proceso de selección que podría incluir una entrevista.Para Solicitar la Beca: Complete la Solicitud de Becas Académicas.Wokini ScholarshipsAmount: $5,000 per year, renewable for three years for a total of $15,000.Eligibility: Students who are tribally enrolled in federally recognized tribe in the United States, including Alaskan Natives, are eligible for the Wokini scholarship.To apply: For consideration, complete the Academic Scholarship Application by Aug. 1 if starting the fall semester and Dec. 1 if starting the spring semester.