Financial Aid

Application:
BHSU offers scholarships to support both new and continuing students. These scholarship opportunities are made possible by our generous donors.
You will not need to submit a separate application for each award opportunity. Simply complete the single application to be considered for all possible awards. Follow the link below, click "Students" and then click either New, Transfer, or Current student and complete the application.

Jacket Scholarship Portal

Important Dates and Deadlines:

• The deadline to submit the New/Transfer Student scholarship application is February 3, 2025.
• Priority deadline for current student applications is February 1, 2025.
• Any application submitted after February 1 may be placed on a waiting list. Please note that scholarships may be awarded up to one year in advance, so be sure to meet listed deadlines.

Links:

• Scholarship Search
• Jacket Scholarship Portal
• Scholarship Acceptance Form

Dr. James Hess, professor of psychology and chair of the School of Behavioral Sciences at Black Hills State University, pledged a $1 million gift to BHSU to establish the School of Behavioral Sciences Make a Difference Initiative. In exchange for scholarship funds, students will be challenged to plan and implement sustainable community projects designed to make a difference in the lives of others.

Application

How Much Will Be Awarded?
Full, in-state tuition scholarships can be awarded. In addition to the scholarship, each recipient will receive up to $2,500 for student projects.

Who Can Apply?
Awarded to selected students with a declared major in Exercise Science, Outdoor Education, Psychology, Sociology, or Human Services. Students must be a sophomore or above with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student must propose a project designed to benefit the local or campus community.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fill Out the Application
Below are a series of videos designed to guide you through the process of filling out the Make a Difference Initiative application. Each video offers clear, step-by-step instructions to ensure that you complete your application accurately and confidently. The sample application used in the videos will also be attached below. Use these resources as a guide as you are filling out your own application.

Sample Application

MADI Application Video Guide Pt. 1: Questions 1-6

MADI Application Video Guide Pt. 2: Questions 1-2 of the Project Proposal

MADI Application Video Guide Pt. 3: Question 3 of the Project Proposal

MADI Application Video Guide Pt. 4: Questions 4-6 of the Project Proposal

MADI Application Video Guide Pt. 5: Questions 7 and 8 of the Project Proposal

What Is the Application Process?

• Complete the application linked at the top of the page. We strongly recommend that you meet with a faculty member in your major well ahead of the March 1 early deadline to review your application. See faculty office doors for scheduled office hours.
  • You will also be required to complete the Confidential Disposition Form.
• Revise and email the application by March 1 to your faculty advisor, who will forward it to the MADI committee chair.
• Winners will be announced in late March or early April. 
• A reception for successful applicants will be held in April. 

Donate!
To contribute to the Make a Difference Initiative, contact Black Hills State University Advancement at 605.642.6385.

Need More Information?
Contact any of these MADI Committee Members well ahead of the deadline for information and application assistance!

• Cheryl Anagnopoulos (Chair) (Cheryl.Anagnopoulos@bhsu.edu)
• Urla Marcus (Urla.Marcus@BHSU.edu)
• Alissa Call (Alissa.Call@BHSU.edu)
• Eric Clapham (Eric.Clapham@bhsu.edu)
• Lesligh Owen (Lesleigh.Owen@BHSU.edu)
• Trenton Ellis (Trenton.Ellis@BHSU.edu)
• Ashley Pfeiffer (Ashley.Pfeiffer@BHSU.edu)
• Greb Strobel (Gregory.Strobel@BHSU.edu)

(12 awards at $12,500 each)

The Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship provides a $12,500 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.

Application

To be eligible for the Horatio Alger Denny Sanford Scholarship a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be committed to complete a bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State University
• Be a current high school senior with plans to enroll in college Fall 2025
• Demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or less family income required)
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
• Be a United States citizen
• Application available December 1 - March 1.

The Joseph F. and Martha P. Nelson Scholarship award is available to a high school senior/graduate who has not previously attended a post-secondary institution. The scholarship is worth $40,000 over four years. It is renewable without reapplying, provided the student maintains the required academic performance. The Nelson Scholarship has a January 15 submission deadline.

Application

To Be Eligible:

• Major(s): Biology, chemistry, physical science, environmental physical science or mathematics
• Be in the upper 10% of his/her class rank
• Attain a minimum ACT composite score of 28 or SAT of 1,260
• Must have completed at least three years of both mathematics and laboratory science, with a fourth year in one area, with all grades of B or higher.
• Academic Level: Freshman
• Enrollment Level: Full Time
• GPA: 3.00

To Recieive Renewal, the Student Must:

• Maintain a major in biology, chemistry, physical science, environmental physical science, or mathematics
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of
• 3.0 after the first two semesters
• 3.2 after the third and fourth semesters
• 3.4 after the fifth, sixth, and seventh semesters
• Successfully complete 30 credit hours of coursework during each academic year and include courses within the major.

Submit a high school transcript with ACT scores.

Submit a typed statement that identifies your academic and professional goals, describes how attending Black Hills State University can help you attain those goals, and address how you foresee your contribution to the Black Hills State University community.

Obtain three letters of recommendation, with at least one being from a math or science teacher. (each letter should be placed in an individually sealed envelope and returned to the applicant. The applicant should then submit the letters together with the other application materials).

The Hatterscheidt Scholarship is a one-year award valued at $2,500. These selective application-based scholarships are awarded annually to seniors graduating from South Dakota high schools who meet the following minimum requirements.

• Must be a South Dakota resident and graduate from a South Dakota high school
• Show financial need and apply for Federal Student Aid through the FAFSA
• Minimum high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Be accepted for admission to Black Hills State University
• Attend the Spearfish main campus of BHSU full time (minimum 12 credit hours)

To apply for a Hatterscheidt Scholarship, please complete, print, and submit the following form: 

Application

Completed applications will include the following items:

• Application form (signed by applicant and parents)
• Financial information
• High school transcript
• Autobiography (no more than 200 words)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Due Date: March 15th, but earlier submission is recommended

After completing and printing the above forms, please send your completed application to the following address:

Black Hills State University Financial Aid
c/o Alyssa Blake
1200 University St. Unit 9670
Spearfish, SD 57799-9670

For questions regarding the Hatterscheidt Scholarship, please contact Alyssa.Blake@bhsu.edu at 605.642.6829

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is available to eligible South Dakota residents that have an ACT composite or superscores of 24 or SAT of 1180; completed specific high school curriculum requirements with a grade of "C" higher; and a cumulative high school GPA of a 3.0 or higher.  This award is worth $7,500 total, over four years.  Students can apply for and learn more about this scholarship by visiting the Board of Regents page on the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship. 

Auditions are held in February. Freshmen and new applicants must perform live auditions or record two contrasting pieces and send to the BHSU music department by Feb. 14, 2025. Music Scholarship recipients represent excellence in music as evidenced by experience in music and demonstrated commitment to playing an instrument and/or singing. Live auditions are held in February of each year. However, you may submit a video audition or a link directing us to your YouTube video for consideration. If possible, perform works or excerpts in two contrasting styles. Early deadline is Feb. 14. Scholarship applications are accepted year-round for the upcoming Fall class (scholarships awarded based on scholarship dollars available). Preference will be given to Music Majors and Minors.

Application

The S-STEM Scholars Program sets students up for academic success by surrounding them with a cohort of other strong 

STEM students to lean on for support and inspiration. All S-STEM Scholars are co-enrolled in one of their first-year science or math courses to foster collaboration, academic support, and community-building within BHSU's science and math programs. S-STEM Scholars receive one-on-one advising with a professional advisor in addition to a science or math faculty mentor. Students also participate in a special section of the General Studies 100 class (GS100), where they learn more about pursuing careers in the STEM fields while actively building their professional network.
The S-STEM Scholars Program targets students with financial need who have a passion and who show academic promise for a career in the STEM fields.

This program is funded by the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) (Division of Undergraduate Education, Award #2221350).

Eligibility
Participants must pursue a major in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Physical Science, or Mathematics. Students must also have demonstrated financial need (Pell eligibility on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA). Students selected for the S-STEM Scholars Program may receive up to $10,000 in annual scholarship. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years if the student maintains good academic standing and the required financial need. These scholarship dollars can also be stacked on top of any other financial aid you receive from Black Hills State University. Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States.

Applicants who have completed dual-credit undergraduate courses during high school are eligible and encouraged to apply.

To Apply:
Applicants must be students new to BHSU with plans for four years of study at BHSU. Academic plans should include earning a degree that could lead to a career in STEM research or pursuit of a graduate-level degree in a STEM discipline. S-STEM funds are not intended for students planning to pursue a career in healthcare.

• Apply for admission to Black Hills State University
• Submit the S-STEM Scholarship application for the 2025-26 academic year, including: 
  • Reference Contact Information:
    • Provide contact information (first and last name, email address) for a teacher who knows you well and is willing to write a letter of recommendation (science or math preferred but not required). Ask that teacher to provide their assessment of you at the link below.
    • S-STEM Recommendation Form
  • A response of 350 words (maximum) to the following: 
    • What interests you about science and math and how do you think the additional supports offered by the S-STEM Scholars Program will help you succeed in your STEM career?
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the Federal Student Aid website.

Completed applications will be reviewed as received. Completed applications include the FAFSA, BHSU enrollment application, and the S-STEM application components, including a recommendation supplied by a teacher. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited for this scholarship opportunity so we invite you to apply early.

Inquiries for more information can be sent to S-STEM@BHSU.edu

Benefits of the S-STEM Scholars Program:

• Co-enrollment in one first year science course with your STEM Scholars cohort.
• Specialized science centered General Studies 100 (GS100) first-year course that focuses on introducing students to different careers in the STEM fields.
• One-on-one advising by STEM faculty advisors and a professional university advisor.
• Additional opportunities to participate in faculty-mentored research as early as the second year through independent study, research courses, and paid summer research experiences. S-STEM Scholars are also eligible for extra support when applying for external internships.
• Academic support from other S-STEM Scholars. After their first year, students seeking even more leadership and professional development opportunities often work as tutors, mentors, or Teaching Assistants in the courses affiliated with the S-STEM Scholars Program.
• An immediate sense of community, thanks to our residential living-learning program. All S-STEM Scholars will be eligible to be housed in the same residence hall during their first year to bring peer-to-peer academic and social support directly into their living spaces.

Responsibilities in the S-STEM Scholars Program:

• Maintain full-time enrollment with a major in Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, Environmental Physical Science, or Mathematics at BHSU. Maintain good academic standing.
• Participate in the faculty mentoring program, academic advising, and S-STEM learning community courses and activities.
• Respond in a timely manner to requests for information from your faculty mentor and/or S-STEM staff concerning your participation in the program.

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*Be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Please note that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals are ineligible for support from this solicitation unless they meet the requirements listed in the first sentence of this bullet by the time of application.