SDSU Scholarships

Why Support Scholarships at SDSU

Scholarships are a critical factor in recruiting and retaining the best and brightest students for SDSU. Offering financial support through scholarships helps to ease financial burdens on our Jackrabbits’ shoulders, making college affordable and attainable for all. Scholarships open doors for students and heighten opportunities that may otherwise not become a reality, motivating students to either begin or continue their education at SDSU. When students no longer have to worry about monetary stress, they can better focus on studies and take part in invaluable extracurriculars that round out the signature Jackrabbit experience.

The power of scholarships is nothing short of transformative. An investment in scholarships is an investment in our people, uplifting the students who will someday lead South Dakota’s workforce and play pivotal roles in solving global challenges. By heightening financial support, we allow Jackrabbits to fully embrace all that SDSU has to offer and the limitless possibility that lies in their bold future following graduation.

Long-term Goal

Endowments are gifts invested to support a university’s growth that serve as perpetual resources to fuel innovation and progress. We aim to double annual scholarship support, from $6 million to $12 million, with two-thirds of that figure sustained by endowments. 

With $200 million in scholarship endowments, SDSU would receive $8 million in scholarship support every year in perpetuity. There’s a great deal of power in numbers like that, and gifts of all sizes make a difference in reaching our goal for endowed support.

By giving to scholarships, you give the university something that will last forever. When polled, potential Jackrabbits often cite a lack of scholarship support when it comes to choosing competing universities to pursue their education. When we heighten scholarship offerings, we allow students of all walks of life and economic circumstances to make their mark at SDSU.

It all starts at South Dakota State University, and scholarships offer our students the chance to begin the rest of their lives.