South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Grant

South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Dakota Community Foundation
Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Summary

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education by providing need-based scholarships to students from diverse economic backgrounds. To qualify, applicants must be South Dakota residents, complete their FAFSA, and commit to living and working in the state post-graduation. This initiative not only supports students in achieving their bachelor's degrees but also contributes to building a skilled workforce in South Dakota.

Overview

Note: To be considered for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, students need to apply for admission and be accepted at a participating South Dakota institution.Applicants should apply to a participating college and complete their FAFSA to demonstrate financial need. The university will let the applicants know if they are offered this scholarship. South Dakota Community Foundation As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day. Scholarships At South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), we proudly manage more than 350 scholarship funds in partnership with generous donors who are committed to supporting students. These scholarships offer countless opportunities to help ease the financial burden of continuing their education. South Dakota Freedom Scholarship There’s an obvious financial gap in post-secondary education. The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship was designed to help close it, awarding need-based scholarships to students of all economic backgrounds who plan to learn, live and work in South Dakota after graduation. By partnering with colleges and universities across the state, the Freedom Scholarship offers a statewide opportunity for students to help pay for college, as they help build South Dakota’s workforce. By demonstrating financial need and meeting scholarship requirements, students can use the scholarship toward any bachelor’s degree. If you’re awarded a Freedom Scholarship, you can use it toward a bachelor’s degree at a participating college or university.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Maintain South Dakota residency for at least one year prior to scholarship application Attend an eligible institution Demonstrate financial need through the completion of your FAFSA Pursue a bachelor’s degree Maintain a 2.0 college GPA Graduate with a bachelor’s degree in five years or less Commit in writing to living and working in South Dakota for at least three years after graduation Acknowledge that any failure to meet these requirements will result in the scholarship being converted to a 4% fixed-interest loan