• South Dakota offers a number of scholarships and grants.South Dakota state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  South Dakota students seeking higher education have a variety of options beyond federal government grants and loans. Grants allow a student to avoid incurring large amounts of student loan throughout the course of their education. South Dakota grants exist for students from Native American reservations, students interested in civics and academically outstanding students.
  
  

Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarship

• The Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarship provides up to $6,000 over the course of four years for students attending college in South Dakota. Only members of South Dakota Native American tribes whose reservation is in South Dakota are eligible. Students receive $1,000 for the first two years, $1,500 for the third year and $2,500 for the fourth year of their college education. Students must also graduate from a South Dakota high school and apply to college either within five years of graduation or one year after military discharge. Applicants should submit two letters of recommendation, an essay regarding their desire to attend college and a list of extracurricular activities.
  
  Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarship
  South Dakota Board of Regents
  306 East Capitol Avenue
  Suite 200
  Pierre, SD 57501
  doe.sd.gov
  
  

United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship

• The United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship provides an opportunity for South Dakota students interested in politics and public service to earn $5,000 for college. Every high school principal in the state nominates two students for the award. Students must then take an exam to qualify for the award. Four students are then selected by the Department of Education; two delegates and two alternates. These students will represent the State of South Dakota in the program. Eligible students must be juniors or seniors and involved in student government as elected officials.
  
  United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship
  90 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1212
  San Francisco, CA 94105-4504
  415-908-4540
  hearstfdn.org
  
  

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

• The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship seeks to reward academically outstanding South Dakota students with a $5,000 scholarship, disbursed over the course of four years. Students have up to five years to apply for the scholarship after graduation. Students must complete a special, academically rigorous high school program without receiving any grades below a C while maintaining an average of a B or higher. Students must also get at least a 24 composite on their ACT scores or a 1090 or better on their SAT. All eligible students receive this award. There is no competition.
  
  South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
  306 East Capitol Avenie
  Suite 200
  Pierre, SD 57501-2545
  605-773-3455
  sdbor.edu
  
  

Dakota Corps Scholarship Program

• Dakota Corps Scholarship Program provides scholarships for students in critically needed occupations who sign a written agreement to stay in South Dakota after graduation. Students must maintain at least a 2.8 grade point average through high school and get an ACT score of at least 24. Students must apply for the program within one year of graduating high school. Critically needed occupations as of 2010 include teachers, allied health professionals and large animal veterinarians.
  
  Dakota Corps Scholarship Program
  115 1st Avenue SW
  Aberdeen, SD 57401
  800-874-9033
  state.sd.us