Financial Aid Offer Information and Resources
Important Dates
March 1 is South Dakota State University's FAFSA priority deadline. We encourage students to complete the FAFSA on or before that date to receive full consideration of all types of financial aid available to students.
Federal Eligibility Requirements
To receive federal financial aid, students must meet the following :
- Have a valid Social Security Number.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students here on a student visa (F1 or F2) or an exchange visitor visa (J1 or J2) are classified as non-eligible non-citizens and do not qualify for federal financial aid. The International Student Affairs Office can provide further information regarding financial assistance.
- Register with Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18-24.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be admitted to 成人视频 as a degree seeking student (with enough credits to be at least a half-time student).
If you meet these requirements, to determine exactly what kind of offer you may receive.
The FAFSA must be completed for each school year that you wish to receive Federal Aid. Some other aid, such as the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship may also require the FAFSA to be completed.
Types of Financial Aid
There are many types of financial aid that you may see on your aid offer. Federal funding is not renewable. Students must complete the FAFSA each year in order to deem eligibility for that award year. Some scholarships are renewable if you meet certain criteria. Please see more information on various types of aid in the below links:
Work-Study Information
- Work-Study funds are earned through work and paid to students as a paycheck.
- Work-Study funds are not posted to a student鈥檚 成人视频 bill.
- Most campus positions and off-campus non-profit or governmental positions can be paid through the Work-Study program.
- 成人视频 receives a limited amount of Work-Study funds from the federal government each year.
- 成人视频 does not assign Work-Study positions 鈥 students need to secure their own Work-Study jobs.
- Work-Study students cannot work during a scheduled class time.
- A student's total earnings from Work-Study cannot exceed the amount awarded.
- Federal Work-Study employees will earn at least minimum wage however, wages will vary by the employer.
Loan Terms and Conditions
New Direct Loan borrowers must complete the (MPN). Students with no prior federal student loans must also complete before their loan funds can be disbursed.
The MPN will detail all of the terms and conditions of the federal loans. Entrance Loan Counseling is a simulated activity designed to help students understand their rights and responsibilities associated with the loan. You can also find additional information on federal loans at the links below. If you are looking for information on alternative loans, visit Alternative and Private Loans or contact your alternative loan servicer.
How to Request a Budget Adjustment
The components you see on your Financial Aid Offer that make up your Cost of Attendance (budget) are based on estimated amounts. If you can provide documentation to show you have costs beyond what is included in your budget, you can complete your budget adjustment form.
Student鈥檚 may have a budget for living expenses (housing, food, transportation and personal expenses) based on the status of living on campus, off campus, or with a parent. You can view your living expenses status through your Financial Aid Self Service Portal with the following steps:
- Once in the portal, view the upper right side of the page and ensure you see South Dakota State and select the 2024-2025 Award Year
- Select the Award Offer tab
- Under the Cost of Attendance section you can view your living expenses status in the blue box
Financial Aid Forms
Please visit to access our commonly used forms such as the Privacy Release Form, Scholarship Reporting Form, Partial Loan Acceptance Form, Verification form and many others.
Semester Start-Up Information
Please see Financial Aid Semester Start Information to find lots of helpful information you may need to answer your questions at the start of the semester. View information on submitting your outside scholarship checks, submitting forms, accepting your financial aid offer and connecting with our office if you need additional assistance.
Cashier's Office
The Cashier鈥檚 office has helpful information on billing and payments. You can find specific information such as bill due dates, payment plans and in-depth information on tuition and fees. The Cashier鈥檚 Office will generate your charges and billing statements which will be available through your SDePay account. You pay your bill to the Cashier鈥檚 Office and can do so by visiting their office or you can also pay online through your SDePay account.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Financial Aid Offer | A financial aid offer is a document sent by a postsecondary institution to a student that outlines the amounts and details of the financial aid being offered to the student, which may include scholarships, grants, loans, employment or other forms of financial assistance to pay for college expenses. Sometimes schools refer to these as financial aid 鈥渁wards鈥, although this term is outdated. Schools should refer to these as financial aid offers. |
| Cost of Attendance | The Cost of Attendance consists of the sum of educational costs payable to the school (also referred to as direct or billable costs) and costs paid to others (or indirect, non-billable or discretionary) costs. The Cost of Attendance represents the highest dollar amount of financial aid a student can receive during an award year. |
| Costs Paid to Others | Costs paid to others (also referred to as indirect, non-billable, or additional costs), are other expenses not paid directly to the school, but associated with receiving an education. These expenses are estimated by the school and may differ from student to student based on their individual circumstances. These expenses may include books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation and parking, personal expenses, childcare costs, computer costs, disability expenses, licensure expenses and off-campus rent and food. |
| Costs Payable to the School | Costs Payable to the school (also referred to as direct or billable costs) generally include tuition, fees, housing and meals/food (for students residing on campus), health insurance (if minimum insurance coverage is not documented), or any other expenses paid to the school for enrollment. |
| Educational Loan | Money borrowed from the federal government, a college or university, or a private source like a bank or financial institution to pay for educational expenses and must be paid back with interest. |
| Federal Loan | Also known as the Direct Loan Program, which allows eligible students and parents to borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education at participating colleges or universities. Federal student loans include Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized and the Direct PLUS programs for parents of dependent students and graduate or professional students. |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan | A Direct Subsidized Loan is an undergraduate federal student loan based on financial need and offers students a reduced, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. Interest is subsidized, meaning it does not accrue to the borrower, while in an in-school, grace, or deferment period. Annual and aggregate limits apply. |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan | An unsubsidized loan offers students a fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. It is not based on financial need. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed and can be paid while the student is enrolled or when loan repayment begins. Annual and aggregate limits apply. |
| Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan | Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are federal loans that graduate or professional students use to help pay for education expenses. A credit check for adverse credit history is required for eligibility. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed and can be paid while the student is enrolled or when loan repayment begins. |
| Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan | Direct Parent PLUS Loans are federal loans that parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for education expenses. Parents must pass a credit check for adverse credit history to qualify for PLUS loans. |
| Private Loan | A student or parent loan from a bank, credit union, private company, a nonprofit or state-affiliated lender, or from the college or university directly to pay for educational costs. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed, and repayment begins while the student is still enrolled in school. |
| Enrollment Status | The number of credits, clock hours, or classes the student is enrolled in, or whether they have withdrawn, graduated, etc. Enrollment status affects eligibility for and the amount of financial aid a student may receive. It also affects when student loans enter repayment status. |
| Expected Family Contribution (EFC) | Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an index, used to determine your eligibility for federal, and in some instances, state and institutional need-based student financial aid. Generally, students with a higher EFC are eligible for less need-based financial aid. It is based upon the information provided by the student and their family on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). |
| Federal Pell Grant | The Pell Grant is a federal grant program designed to assist undergraduate students in low- and moderate-income households to pay for college. The award amount is based on the cost of the institution, EFC and enrollment status, and is subject to an aggregate limit. |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) | A federal grant provided by the institution to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and does not need to be repaid. The amount of funding from this program varies by institution. |
| Federal Work-Study (FWS) | Federal Work-Study provides funding for part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Unlike grants and loans, FWS is paid to students as they earn the funds by working. |
| Grants and Scholarships | Any money provided to students that does not have to be repaid. They can be called grants, scholarships, tuition remissions, gift aid, or tuition waivers. Grants and scholarships are provided based on many different factors. |
| Need | The student's Cost of Attendance minus their Expected Family Contribution. |
| Need-based Aid | Financial assistance provided to students based on their financial situation, determined by completing the FAFSA. Need-based financial aid can take different forms, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs and low-interest loans, like the federal direct subsidized loan. |
| Net Price | The difference between the cost of attendance and all grants and scholarships. Net price reflects what the student is expected to pay for their education on their own and can be covered through a variety of sources, including savings, student employment, institutional payment plans, or education loans. |
| Other Funding Options | Funding options outside of grants and scholarships that a student and their family may use to pay any remaining costs or expenses. This may include loans, student employment, institutional payment plans or personal savings. |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | The SAI will replace the EFC starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA as the eligibility index used to determine your eligibility for federal, and in some instances, state and institutional need-based student financial aid. Generally, students with a higher EFC are eligible for less need-based financial aid. It is based upon the information provided by the student and their family on the FAFSA. |
| Verification | A federally mandated process to confirm the accuracy of data provided by selected applicants on the FAFSA. To complete the verification process, the student, their parent(s), or spouse, if applicable, are required to provide certain documents to the school for review. If the documentation the student provides the institution doesn't match what was reported on the FAFSA, verification can result in changes to the student's financial aid eligibility, and/or financial aid offers. |
