April 7, 2022
Students will begin receiving South Dakota's new Freedom Scholarship in the fall 2022 semester.
Although some of the details of the scholarship program are being finalized, the first scholarships under the new program should be awarded for the fall 2022 semester.
To apply for the scholarship, students only need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
According to information on the Freedom Scholarship website, Students interested in the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship should apply for admission to the postsecondary institution(s) they plan to attend and list those schools when they complete the FAFSA. Students will be reviewed for eligibility once admitted and upon completing the FAFSA. There is no separate South Dakota Freedom Scholarship application to complete.
The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is the state’s first public/private partnership for a need-based scholarship. $5.1 million in scholarships is to be allocated for the 2022-2023 pilot year.
The grant is made possible with gifts and commitments totaling $175 million and is the state’s largest financial need-based scholarship. Managed by the South Dakota Community Foundation, the funding goal for the scholarship program is $200 million, an endowment that will continue to provide scholarships in perpetuity.
More information about the scholarship fund and donors can be found on the scholarship website.