Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation manages one of South Dakota's largest scholarship programs, awarding more than $500,000 across 70-plus competitive scholarships every year. The 2027-28 application window opens December 15, 2026, and the program covers an unusually broad range of students: high school seniors, GED candidates, current undergraduates, graduate students, and nontraditional students returning to school.
Each scholarship carries its own criteria — some require demonstrated financial need verified through the FAFSA, others set minimum ACT scores, and many target specific schools or fields. The foundation's site breaks out requirements on separate pages for high school and college applicants so students can gather teacher recommendations, transcripts, and FAFSA summaries before the window opens.
Awards pay out in a single installment that the school divides between fall and spring semesters, and funds apply to tuition, fees, and course-related expenses at nonprofit institutions. For students in the Sioux Falls area, mid-December is the date to circle: preparing documents over winter break positions you well ahead of the spring deadlines.
Eligibility
- Students in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area (individual scholarships set specific school, residency, and field criteria)
- Open to high school seniors, GED candidates, undergraduates, graduate students, and nontraditional students
- Some scholarships require demonstrated financial need (FAFSA verification) or minimum ACT scores
- Awards may be used for tuition, fees, and course-related expenses at nonprofit institutions only — not room, board, or travel
How To Apply
- Gather required documents before the window opens: teacher recommendations, transcripts, FAFSA submission summary if applicable, and ACT results if required
- Open the scholarship portal from sfacf.org when the 2027-28 window opens on December 15, 2026
- Review the high school and college student requirement pages and apply to each scholarship you qualify for
- Submit before the deadline — most scholarships are due March 15
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
The program serves high school seniors, students finishing a GED, current undergraduate and graduate students, and nontraditional students returning to school in the Sioux Falls area.
How is the money paid out?
Awards are payable in one installment, which your school divides between the fall and spring semesters. Funds cover tuition, fees, and course-related expenses, and cannot be used at for-profit institutions.
When are applications due?
The window for 2027-28 scholarships opens December 15, 2026, and most applications are due March 15. Individual scholarships can vary, so check each listing.