Build Dakota Scholarship

South Dakota's four technical colleges, Lake Area, Mitchell, Southeast, and Western Dakota, host a full ride covering tuition, fees, books, technology, and program tools in approved high-demand programs. The trade is three years of work in that field in South Dakota after graduating, often for the industry sponsor funding the award. Selection is competitive: Southeast Tech alone drew about 600 applicants for 176 awards in a recent cycle, and the fund awarded 630 new scholarships statewide in its largest year so far. The window runs January 1 to March 31, colleges pass files to sponsors as they arrive and some sponsors commit money early in the cycle, and applicants hear in May with all decisions out by late June. Out-of-state students may apply if they will relocate, and the award holds with a 2.5 GPA, full-time enrollment, and on-time completion.

How hard is the Build Dakota Scholarship to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to South Dakota residents
• Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
• Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
• More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Build Dakota Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of South Dakota
• ✓Open to high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners
• ✓Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)

What the application takes

• Essay required.
• Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is March 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 31 each year. Applications open January 1. Sponsors can commit funds before the window closes, so submit in January rather than waiting for March 31.

Applications open

January 1, 2027

Applications close

March 31, 2027

Most recipients notified

May 2027

All applicants notified

By June 30, 2027

Common questions about the Build Dakota Scholarship

More state grants & programs

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
  Varies by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
• Alabama Student Grant Program
  Up to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
• Alaska Education Grant
  $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
• Arizona Promise Program
  Full tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)

Lists this award appears on

• South Dakota Scholarships and State Grants
• Full-Tuition and Free-Tuition Programs
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Community College Scholarships and Transfer Aid
• Scholarships With March Deadlines