November 16, 2022

If you are passionate about working in a career field designated as a critical need in South Dakota, you may qualify to have part or all of your education paid.

The deadline to apply for the 2023-24 Dakota Corps Scholarship program is quickly approaching. Applications must be completed by December 15, an earlier deadline than prior years.

In addition, to pursuing a degree in a critical-need career field, applicants must meet several other requirements, including:

• Graduate from an accredited South Dakota high school with a Grade Point Average (GPA of) 2.8 or greater on a 4.0 scale.
• Have a composite ACT score of 27 or greater (or the SAT equivalent).
• Agree, in writing, to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical need occupation after graduation for as many years as the scholarship was received, plus one year. The current critical need occupations for 2023-24 are:
  • Teacher - High School Math
  • Teacher - High School Science
  • Teacher - High School Language Arts
  • Teacher - Elementary or Secondary Vocal or Instrumental Music
  • Teacher - Elementary or Secondary Special Education
  • Teacher - High School Career and Technical Education
  • Teacher - K-12 Foreign Language
  • Teacher - K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learners (ELL)
  • Accountant / Auditor
  • Engineer (includes all fields EXCEPT mining, chemical, biomedical, and computer hardware)
  • Information Technology
  • Registered Nurse

• Apply for the Dakota Corps Scholarship for a school period that begins within one year of high school graduation, or within one year of release from active duty of an active component of the armed forces.
• Attend a participating South Dakota college as an undergraduate student in a program that will prepare the student to work in a critical need occupation.
• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.

Among those that qualify, recipients will be chosen based on GPA, test scores, activities, honors, and community service. Not all eligible applicants will be selected for a scholarship. From the total pool of applicants, a limited number of recipients will be selected. Also, some South Dakota colleges may limit the number of scholarship recipients they accept, or not participate at all.

The application and other instructions are online on the South Dakota Board of Regents website.