Mines Merit Scholarship Program

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Freshman Scholarships - 2025-2026 Academic Year

Dollar Amount Tier Name ACT Range SAT Minimum
$7,000  Presidential Scholar 35-36  1530 
$5,000 Gold Scholar 34 1490
$4,000 Silver Scholar 31-33 1390
$3,000 Copper Scholar 28-30 1300
$2,000 Miner Scholar 25-27 1200
$1,000 Hardrock Scholar 24 1160

Scholarships list (PDF) 

Scholarship Deadline: January 1st

In order to be considered for incoming freshmen scholarships, students starting in the fall semester must be accepted by January 1. Students starting in the spring semester must be accepted by November 1. As well as have a 3.0 unweighted cumulative GPA from high school. The Office of Admissions will consider a student's highest composite score (either ACT or SAT) by test date.  Please note ACT Superscores (calculated by ACT) will not be considered.  After the deadline of January 1, no additional test scores or updated high school transcripts will be considered.

The South Dakota Mines Scholarship Committee awards scholarships which are all renewable for an additional 3 years if continuing criteria is met. South Dakota Mines commits to awarding scholarship funds to as many students as possible. All of the scholarship funds in which South Dakota Mines receives are from alumni, family, corporations, and friends of South Dakota Mines. South Dakota Mines has outstanding students and merit scholarships are extremely competitive.Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships are awarded as part of the incoming freshman scholarships based on the demonstrated financial need of the student. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used in determining eligibility. No separate scholarship application is required. 

Athletic Scholarships

The Athletic Director, Compliance Director, and Financial Aid Director share responsibility for monitoring compliance with NCAA financial aid regulations. All athletic aid will be awarded in accordance with NCAA and South Dakota Mines rules and regulations. No aid for any student-athlete will be awarded, paid, cancelled or altered without approval of the Financial Aid Office and the Department of Athletics. Approval of aid will be contingent upon submission of all appropriate forms by the Department of Athletics, the student-athlete, and/or other agencies as appropriate. Any merit or private scholarships or awards received by a student-athlete must conform to NCAA regulations. Approval of athletics aid will be contingent upon the academic eligibility of the student-athlete. 

Scholarship Requirements

Scholarship recipients must meet certain enrollment and academic achievement requirements. See below to view scholarship requirements. 

More Information about Scholarship

 The Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship provides a $37,500 scholarship to be disbursed throughout a student's collegiate career. Like all Horatio Alger Scholarships, the Horatio Alger Denny Sanford scholarship assists high school students who have faced great obstacles in their young lives to overcome their adversities, attend a post-secondary institution, and achieve success.

Eligibility

  • Be committed to complete a bachelor's degree at South Dakota Mines
  • Be a current high school senior with plans to enroll in college for the upcoming fall semester 
  • Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or less family income required) 
  • Be involved in community service activities
  • Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
  • Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
  • Be a United States citizen

Students may apply beginning December 1 at horatioalger.org/scholarships - Under the heading Undergraduate Scholarships, click on 'Learn More.'

Scholarships can be an important source of funding for students (incoming and current) and their families. Generally, they provide funds without the obligation of repayment, though there may be other requirements or conditions. Scholarships are offered by a wide variety of organizations and entities. Some offer substantial awards and some are more modest.

The links on this page provide some guidance for students seeking non-South Dakota Mines scholarships but do not represent all that may be available.

There are lots and lots and lots of scholarships out there! To aid in your search, check out the below tips for searching and attaining scholarships. Also below are some myths, truths and advantages to applying for scholarships.

Tips

  • Check with parent or guardian employers about available scholarship funds.
  • Search for scholarships based on interests.
  • Search for less competitive scholarships – can always call or email scholarship to find out chances when applying for scholarship.
  • Check your community about possible scholarship opportunities (i.e., Banks, Churches, community organizations, foundations, etc.). They are only open to community members so there is less competition and less time to complete. Chances could be 1/20 compared to larger scholarships that could be 1/200,000.
  • Some scholarships look at applicant’s achievement, character, leadership qualities, community involvement, and extra-curricular activities more than GPA or test scores – Non-Prestigious scholarships.
  • Always tailor your essays to the requirements, but do build an essay template about experiences or obstacles you have overcome has impacted your character and has led to personal growth. (May also want to include sections on hobbies, achievements, leadership skills, volunteerism, extra-curricular involvement, etc.)
  • Keep your resume up to date – add your awarded scholarship to your resume so employers are aware of your achievements!
  • Keep track of deadlines with calendaring system, the earlier you apply and submit your application the better!
  • Make sure to check the criteria first when applying to scholarships – if you don’t meet the criteria don’t waste your time applying, move forward!
  • Have someone proofread your applications and essays.
  • Complete one application at a time and submit, then move on to next scholarship and repeat the process to avoid getting bogged down by overwhelming amount of scholarships and due dates.
  • Check with professional associations in your career field – you may need to be a member to access scholarship opportunities.
  • Rejection letters sting, just like getting a bad grade, but remember once you apply to so many your chances of winning a scholarship increase.
  • Point out academic achievement in chosen field (ex. A’s in major classes)
  • Add in your activities, community involvement, or Co-Op and internship experience to help your application stand out.
  • Some scholarships are need based compared to merit based. 
  • Don’t pay for scholarships – if a scholarship requires an application fee or any other payment it’s a scam.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute – you may need transcripts or recommendation letters, allow plenty of time to pull together all the required elements of the application.

Myths

  • Too much time/trouble
  • Huge essay involved
  • Can’t write
  • Need a high gpa
  • Don’t have any references
  • Don’t have a special “story” to tell in essay
  • Finding scholarships takes forever and you’re ineligible for 90% of what you find
  • Scholarships are all heavily weighted towards minorities and those with financial need

Truths

  • Major/prestigious scholarships = more time
    • However, most = simple online application, possible essay
    • Use free weekends, vacation breaks to apply
  • Most essays 200-500 words, or you answer 1-3 questions
  • More important to address the essay/questions
  • Many awards are “need based”; GPA’s on merit-based are wide range (e.g., 2.7 up to 3.5 and above)
    • Some place more importance on community service/volunteering
  • Reference examples:  advisor, instructors, current/past employment supervisors, church personnel, sports coaches
  • Everyone has a unique story to tell for an essay
  • There are scholarships out there for everybody

Advantages

  • Lower college cost/loan amount
  • Internship and job acquisition
    • Résumé bullet (“gold nugget”)
    • Scholarship recipients valued by potential employers
    • Sets you apart from other job candidates
  • Extra funding for studying abroad

  • Development of references for résumés and jobs

Potential Local and National Scholarship Entities to Pursue

National:

  • Alumni Associations
  • American Legion Auxiliaries
  • American Red Cross
  • Boy Scouts
  • Dollars for Scholars
  • Farmer Bureau Foundations
  • Girl Scouts
  • Health Foundations
  • National Merit Scholarship Corporation
  • Oahe Foundation
  • Scholarship America
  • SMART Scholarship Funding Corporation

Local:

  • Banks
  • Booster Clubs
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • Churches
  • Credit Unions
  • Electric Power Cooperatives
  • Elks Associations
  • FFA or FHA Foundations
  • Fraternities
  • Kiwanis Clubs
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Lions Clubs
  • Masonic Clubs
  • Memorial Scholarship Funds
  • P.E.O. Chapter Foundation
  • Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
  • Rotary Clubs
  • Sororities
  • Sports Clubs
  • Stockgrowers Associations
  • Tribal Grants
  • VFW

Scholarship Links

Students who receive a non-South Dakota Mines scholarship must notify the Financial Aid Office; please complete the Outside Financial Assistance Form. Outside scholarships received by the Financial Aid Office will be processed for one semester if the scholarship amount is less than $2,000 unless the scholarship donor or student specifies otherwise. Outside scholarships in the amount of $2,000 or over will be split equally between the fall and spring semesters, unless the scholarship donor or student specifies otherwise.

*Always check with your academic department about scholarship opportunities from related industry or student organizations.

Scholarships available to South Dakota Residents

South Dakota Freedom Scholarship

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is available to a limited number of South Dakota resident students with unmet financial need. Recipients of the scholarship must commit in writing to live and work in South Dakota for three years after graduation. Visit the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship website for a full listing of eligibility requirements. South Dakota Mines requests that students interested in this scholarship complete a short online questionnaire. The questionnaire for the 2024-2025 academic year is available here. The questionnaire requires students to log in with their South Dakota Mines ID and password.

South Dakota Jump Start Scholarship

The South Dakota Jump Start Scholarship program is for South Dakota residents who graduate from a South Dakota Public high school in three (3) years or less. Find information, eligibility requirements and the Jump Start Scholarship application at the SD Board of Regents website.

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship program is for South Dakota residents only. Students and families are advised to carefully review the application and eligibility requirements for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship program.

Dakota Corps Scholarship Program

The Dakota Corps Scholarship Program allows South Dakota high school students financial access to an outstanding post-secondary education, while encouraging them to remain in South Dakota upon graduation working in critical need occupations. As designated administrators of the program, the South Dakota Board of Regents inform the campus each year of the value of the scholarship award.  The award is based on SD resident tuition, General Activity Fee and University Support Fee for 16 credit hours per fall and spring semester (funding is not available for summer).  The award is renewable through the Dakota Corps program provided the student meets continuing eligibility requirements.  You can either contact your high school counselor for application and related material or access them through the Dakota Corps website link above.

Regardless of the type of scholarship that has been awarded from South Dakota Mines, students must have at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), maintain full-time enrollment by enrolling in a minimum of 12 School of Mines credit hours each semester (there are limited exceptions that students must discuss with the Financial Aid Office) and continue progress towards completion of their undergraduate degree.

Multi-Year Scholarships

Students with multi-year renewable scholarships must

  • 1) Complete a minimum of 24 South Dakota Mines credit hours each academic year (fall, spring, summer) and
  • 2) Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA (unless your award letter states a different GPA requirement).

If the above two renewable scholarship requirements are not met at the end of any year in which funding is received, future years of eligibility will be suspended.  If/when a student meets the renewable scholarship requirements, the scholarship will be re-instated.  If the scholarship is suspended, students will be allowed to appeal for extenuating circumstances.

Multi-year scholarships are for the first four years of a student’s undergraduate academic journey at South Dakota Mines. Unless otherwise noted, awards are intended to be split evenly for the fall and spring semesters. Scholarships may not be pre-paid, such as early graduation, or accessed prior to the semester(s) indicated in the award notification. Students participating in a cooperative education assignment (co-op) may still receive their renewable scholarship if they take the co-op for credit.  Students who do not take the co-op for credit will not receive their scholarship for that semester.

Non-South Dakota Mines Scholarships

Recipients of non-South Dakota Mines and State Scholarships (such as the SD Opportunity Scholarship) are advised to review carefully the requirements of the scholarship to ensure they meet the continuing eligibility requirements.