Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from South Dakota's official program pages.
The short answer: South Dakota's Opportunity Scholarship takes a 24 ACT with a 3.0 GPA and the Advanced Honors curriculum, or a 28 ACT with no GPA or curriculum requirement. It pays $7,500 over four years: $1,500 a year for the first three years and $3,000 in the fourth.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | Not published | 24 to 27 | 3.0 unweighted | $1,500 a year in years 1 to 3, $3,000 in year 4 |
| Option 2 | Not published | 28 | No GPA requirement | $1,500 a year in years 1 to 3, $3,000 in year 4 |
| Alternative testing route | 1250 | 28, with benchmarks of 18 English, 21 Reading, 22 Math, 24 Science | Not published | $1,500 a year in years 1 to 3, $3,000 in year 4 |
Beyond the score:
- Option 1: Complete the Advanced Honors Endorsement curriculum with a C or higher in every required course.
- Option 2: No curriculum requirement. The score alone meets the entry bar.
- Alternative testing route: For students who did not complete the required high school courses. The SAT route also requires no remediation markers in reading, writing, math, or science.
How the test score counts
Your teen must take the ACT or SAT before starting college. The ACT composite or superscore counts. State law accepts an equivalent SAT score set by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and that SAT number is not written into the statute.
How the GPA is calculated
The 3.0 is unweighted, on a 4.0 scale, and applies only to Option 1 (a 24 to 27 ACT). A 28 or higher ACT carries no GPA or curriculum requirement for entry. In college, your teen needs a cumulative 3.0 at the end of every semester after the first.
Which class year these rules cover
The curriculum rules on the program site apply to the class of 2027 and beyond. The 24 and 28 ACT lines are set in state law (SDCL 13-55-31).
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| First-time college student, fall enrollment | September 1 (June 1 preferred) |
| First-time college student, spring enrollment | January 1 (September 1 preferred) |
| In-state transfer student, fall or spring | September 20 or February 15 |
| Out-of-state returning student, fall or spring | September 1 or January 15 |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in South Dakota SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
Your teen needs a cumulative 3.0 GPA, continuous fall and spring enrollment, and credit benchmarks: 30 credits for the 3rd and 4th terms, 60 for the 5th and 6th, and 90 for the 7th and 8th. Dropping below 3.0 stops the award until the GPA is back to 3.0, and a second loss is permanent. The award lasts up to 8 consecutive fall and spring terms or until a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
Where it pays
Accredited South Dakota universities and technical colleges: the six public universities, Augustana, Dakota Wesleyan, Mount Marty, University of Sioux Falls, and the four technical colleges. There is no requirement to live or work in South Dakota after graduation.
The misconception: a 24 ACT is all it takes
A 24 ACT qualifies only with a 3.0 unweighted GPA and the full Advanced Honors curriculum. A 26 ACT with a weak GPA or a missing course does not qualify. Only a 28 or higher works on the score alone.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the South Dakota colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does a 24 ACT alone qualify for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?
No. With a 24 to 27 ACT, your teen also needs a 3.0 unweighted GPA and the Advanced Honors Endorsement curriculum with a C or higher in each required course. A 28 or higher ACT removes the GPA and curriculum requirement.
How much is the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship worth?
$7,500 over four years. That is $1,500 a year for years 1 to 3 and $3,000 in year 4.
Can my teen use the SAT instead of the ACT?
Yes. State law accepts an equivalent SAT score set by the Board of Regents, so ask the Board of Regents or your teen's counselor for the current figure. Students who missed the required courses can also qualify with a 1250 SAT and no remediation markers.
What happens if my teen's GPA drops below 3.0 in college?
The award stops until the cumulative GPA is back to 3.0. A second loss of eligibility cannot be restored.
Does my teen have to stay in South Dakota after college?
No. Recipients have no obligation to live or work in South Dakota after graduation.
When does my family need to apply?
By September 1 for fall enrollment, with June 1 preferred. For spring, the deadline is January 1, with September 1 preferred. Transfer students have different dates.
Sources
- SDCL 13-55-31: Eligibility requirements for opportunity scholarship
- Our Dakota Dreams: South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
- South Dakota Board of Regents: Scholarships
- South Dakota Board of Regents: Opportunity Scholarship Report 2024
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the Opportunity Scholarship line and the ranges at their South Dakota colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for South Dakota families: South Dakota SAT prep and SAT Scores for South Dakota Colleges.