South Dakota Need-Based Grant (Needs Based Scholarship)
South Dakota Board of Regents
Need-based award of $500 to $2,000 made by participating South Dakota colleges to students with the highest unmet need; FAFSA only.
- How much
- $500 to $2,000
- Who qualifies
- Highest unmet financial need at a participating South Dakota college, as determined by that college from the FAFSA.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time FAFSA-driven; no application. Awarded by each participating college from its allocation.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA
- There is no separate application
- Your college's financial aid office selects recipients
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (tdx.sdbor.edu), page 2 and page 3
The details
Also called the South Dakota Needs Based Grant Program (SDNBGP). Funded from interest on a state investment in the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, matched by participating institutions. Each participating college reviews FAFSA data and institutional information and awards students with the highest remaining unmet need after other grants, scholarships, tuition reductions and family contribution. Participating: Augustana, Black Hills State, Dakota State, Dakota Wesleyan, Lake Area Tech, Mitchell Tech, Mount Marty, Northern State, Oglala Lakota College, SD Mines, SDSU, Southeast Tech, University of Sioux Falls, USD and Western Dakota Tech.
More money from South Dakota
- South Dakota Opportunity ScholarshipUp to $7,500 over four years ($1,500 in years 1-3, $3,000 in year 4)
- Jump Start Scholarship$1,500 (first year only, split between fall and spring)
- Reduced Tuition for Residents 65 and Older45% off tuition
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming
- 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.