North Dakota Scholarship
North Dakota University System
$6,000 merit scholarship ($750 a semester) for ND high school graduates who meet Choice Ready coursework, GPA and test requirements and study in ND.
- How much
- $6,000 total: $750 per semester, $500 per quarter, clock-hour term or apprenticeship term
- Who qualifies
- ND high school diploma (or qualifying nonpublic/home education); meet Essential Skills plus 2 of 3 Choice Ready components; ACT 24 / SAT 1180 or WorkKeys/ASVAB paths; must attend an eligible ND institution or registered apprenticeship; renewal needs full-time enrollment, 2.75 college GPA and credit progress.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; DPI application due in early June of senior year (June 5 for the class of 2026).
- How to apply
- During senior year of high school, apply online with the ND Department of Public Instruction (apps.nd.gov/DPI/scholarship)
- Your school reports Choice Ready indicators
- Nonpublic and home-educated students submit verification forms
- NDUS then pays the college each term
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript + test scores
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (ndus.edu), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Replaced the ND Academic and CTE Scholarships starting with 2025 graduating seniors. High school students qualify through the ND Department of Public Instruction's Choice Ready-aligned framework: Essential Skills (ND diploma, 3.0+ overall GPA, ND Civics Test, career education, plus four extra indicators) and two of three components: Post-Secondary Ready (ACT 24 / SAT 1180 plus advanced coursework indicators), Workforce Ready (CTE, world language or teaching coursework plus ACT 24 / WorkKeys 5s / SAT 1180) or Military Ready (ASVAB and PE plus other indicators). Total value $6,000: $750 per semester, $500 per quarter, clock-hour term or apprenticeship term. Usable at accredited ND public, private and tribal colleges, ND career and technical schools, and ND registered apprenticeships, for up to six years after high school graduation. Each payment requires full-time enrollment, a 2.75 cumulative college GPA and credit-progress milestones (24 credits before payment 3, 39 before payment 4, and so on).
More money from North Dakota
- North Dakota State GrantUp to $1,375 per semester or $917 per quarter (2026-27)
- Dual-Credit Tuition Scholarship$250 (one course), $500 (two), $750 (three or more); one-time
- North Dakota Scholars ProgramFull undergraduate tuition (NDUS rate at 15 credits per semester)
- Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) ProgramNot published (one-time award per degree level)
- Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP)Varies by school and program (WICHE support fee, or contract formula)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.