South Dakota Freedom Scholarship

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for South Dakota students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a participating South Dakota college or university. The program began in 2022. Public funds and private donors support the program, and South Dakota Workforce Scholarships manages it.¹

Each participating institution determines recipients through its financial aid process. A recipient commits in writing to live and work in South Dakota after graduation.

Who is eligible for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship?

A student must meet all of the following requirements:²

1. Have been a South Dakota resident for at least one year before applying for the scholarship.
2. Attend an eligible institution in pursuit of a first bachelor’s degree.
3. Demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as determined by the institution and the Freedom Scholarship board.
4. Maintain a college grade point average of at least 2.0.
5. Graduate with a bachelor’s degree in five years or less.
6. Commit in writing to live and work in South Dakota for at least three years after graduation.
7. Agree through a promissory note that failure to meet these requirements converts the scholarship to a loan.

A recipient must be a United States citizen or permanent resident. The scholarship is not available for graduate degrees, for technical colleges or for institutions outside South Dakota.³

Which institutions participate in the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship?

Participating institutions are Augustana University, Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mount Marty University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University, the University of Sioux Falls and the University of South Dakota.⁴

What happens if a recipient does not live and work in South Dakota?

A scholarship that is not fulfilled converts to a loan. The loan carries a fixed interest rate of 4 percent for the 2026-27 school year, with a minimum payment of $50 per month for a term of up to ten years.³

A six-month grace period applies between graduation and the start of the three-year employment obligation. The work does not need to relate to the degree field. A recipient may request a deferment for graduate school or military service.³

How to apply for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship?

An applicant applies for admission to a participating institution and completes the FAFSA. The institution financial aid office determines eligibility and sends an invitation to eligible students, who then accept the award and sign the agreement paperwork.²

The scholarship does not renew automatically. A recipient completes the FAFSA each year and confirms eligibility with the institution financial aid office.³

South Dakota Community Foundation
(605) 786-2407