Why Your ACT Score Matters
Special Scholarships
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
If you graduate from a SD High School with a GPA over 3.0 and earn an ACT® SuperScore of 24+, you will receive $7,500 over the course of 4 years if you attend participating schools in SD. Check out the link for more details. This scholarship is provided through the SD Board of Regents.
If you earn an ACT® SuperScore of 27+, you can apply for this full tuition scholarship if you attend participating schools in SD and choose a critical need field. In return, you agree to work in SD for the number of years tuition was covered +1. Check out the link for more details. This scholarship is provided through the SD Board of Regents.
Western Undergraduate Exchange
If you want to attend one of the 160 public colleges in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), a strong ACT® score can help you earn this scholarship. Essentially, you can enroll for 150% (or less) of in-state tuition. Participating colleges set their own minimum ACT® scores for WUE eligibility.
South Dakota
State Universities
All of the following universities participate in the South Dakota Opportunities Scholarship and the Dakota Corps Scholarship. These University Scholarships can be stacked on the Board of Regents Scholarships.
SDSU offers the Jackrabbit Guarantee Scholarship to 1st-time Freshmen based on a combination of GPA and/or ACT® Superscores. No separate application is required.
NSU offers the WolfPACT Unleashed Merit-Based, Four-Year Scholarship for all first-year students based on GPA and/or ACT® Superscores. No separate application is required.
BHSU offers Scholarships of Distinction of up to $4,000 per year to qualifying new first-time undergraduate students based on GPA and/or ACT Superscores. No separate application is required.
In order to qualify for Mines Freshman Scholarships, students must be accepted by January 1st and have an unweighted GPA of 3.0. The Scholarships are awarded based on ACT® Composite Scores as provided in the link. These awards are not based on Superscores and Science subscores are required.
USD's primary scholarships for Freshmen are the Coyote Beginnings and Premier Scholarships. No separate application is required for the Coyote Beginnings. The Premier Scholarship requires a separate application and application to the Honors Program. USD does not publicize a GPA/ACT® grid.
DSU offers the DSU Champion Scholarships and DSU Rising Scholarship to undergraduates upon admission based upon certain academic criteria, including GPA and ACT® scores. No separate application is required.
South Dakota
Private Universities
The following private universities participate in the South Dakota Opportunities Scholarship and the Dakota Corps Scholarship, which have ACT minimum score requirements. Information about additional scholarships can be found at the following links.
