South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Celebrates 300 Graduates and $7.2 Million in New Funding

May 21, 2026

Across South Dakota, Freedom Scholarship is celebrating two significant milestones this spring. While many excited soon-to-be college graduates prepare to don cap and gown, an estimated 300 of them will cross the stage with an additional distinction - Freedom Scholarship graduate. These students are South Dakota residents who have attended one of ten participating universities and graduated on time, a meaningful achievement for students facing financial barriers. This spring is especially worth celebrating, as this is the first class with the opportunity to have received the scholarship for all four years of their college career.

Freedom Scholarship launched in the Fall of 2022 as the largest public-private, need-based scholarship in South Dakota history - made possible by $50 million in funding from the South Dakota Legislature, $150 million from First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, and contributions and commitments totaling $25 million from Avera Health and Sanford Health System. Since then, more than $21 million in scholarships have been awarded. Whether a student receives one year of funding or more, each graduate leaves college with less debt and a commitment to live and work in South Dakota for at least three years, directly strengthening the state's workforce.

The SD Freedom Scholarship has aided 237 DSU students since its inception, totaling more than $1.6 million in financial support. 22 of those 237 Trojans received SD Freedom Scholarship funds for all four years.

Dana Dykhouse, Freedom Scholarship Board Chair, reflects on what this milestone means for South Dakota: "This scholarship is an investment in South Dakota's future. Students tell us how much this scholarship changes their lives. For many, it covers 20% or more of their college expenses. These are the students who will ultimately become our next educators, healthcare workers, and community leaders."

"The Freedom Scholarship has really impacted my life in a positive way," said Abbie Pillen in a testimonial for SD Freedom Scholarship. "It's allowed me to go to college and feel secure knowing that part of my tuition has been covered."

Pillen is a senior majoring in digital sound design at DSU with minors in photography and graphic design. She has a career goal of working in sound design for films and television.

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Board is also pleased to announce a significant boost to scholarship funding for the 2026-2027 academic year. A total of $7,215,000 will be available across ten partner universities - split between returning students and incoming freshmen - with each university determining how its allocation is awarded locally.

"Some of our earliest recipients received a scholarship for one semester prior to graduating and have already fulfilled their post-graduation commitment," said Elli Haerter, Executive Director of South Dakota Workforce Scholarships. "Others have been in graduate school and are just beginning their three-year obligation."

For each awarded year, a student signs an agreement that includes a promissory note. Each university will determine a student's eligibility and communicate it directly with them. The scholarship requirements are as follows:

• Maintain South Dakota residency for at least one year prior to scholarship application
• Attend an eligible institution
• Demonstrate financial need through the completion of the FAFSA
• Pursue a bachelor's degree
• Maintain a 2.0 college GPA
• Graduate with a bachelor's degree in five years or less
• Commit in writing to living and working in South Dakota for at least three years after graduation
• Acknowledge that scholarship funds are subject to repayment as a 4% fixed-interest loan if requirements are not fulfilled

The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Board governs the scholarship. Operations, board administration and support is provided by South Dakota Workforce Scholarships. The South Dakota Community Foundation stewards the endowments that fund the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship. Recipient and graduate figures are estimated pending final confirmation from each participating university.

For more information, contact Elli Haerter, Executive Director of South Dakota Workforce Scholarships, a registered South Dakota nonprofit corporation and a section 501(c)(3) organization.

EMAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: 605-846-6976

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