University of South Dakota · South Dakota

University of South Dakota Merit Aid

Strong merit options for high-achieving students across journalism, STEM, and leadership.

Verified Jun 2026today· HX-AUTO
Merit tiers31 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst HX-AUTO

Rules that bite at University of South Dakota

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from University of South Dakota's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • renewalRawlins Scholarships: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    Maintain 3.5 GPA A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Who this school is for

Students with strong academic records who are interested in journalism, medical biology, or public service will find dedicated scholarship pathways at USD.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $26,870 for 2026-2027. Source

Institutional merit aid tiers

Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.

Amount not published

Rawlins Scholarships

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Renewal terms

Maintain 3.5 GPA

Source

Amount not published

Coyote Beginnings Commitment Program

AutomaticRenewable

Source

Full tuition

Walter A Lucy Yoshiko Buhler Scholarship

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Renewal terms

Maintain 3.5 GPA

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at University of South Dakota

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThe Presidential Alumni Scholarship requires participation in the USD Honors Program, a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and completion of 30 credit hours per year; it is valued at in-state direct costs and general fees.

Source

AmountFull tuitionEligibilityThe George S. Mickelson Scholarship requires participation in the USD Honors Program, a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and completion of 30 credit hours per year; it is valued at in-state direct costs and general fees and includes prorated double occupancy housing and a standard meal plan.

Source

How University of South Dakota compares across our verified dataset

  • 253 of 281 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    University of South Dakota is one of them. The cohort minority (28 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against University of South Dakota’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

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  • Ole Miss merit aid Mississippi public university — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.

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