First-Year Aid Offer Information
This page is designed to provide supplemental information to help you understand your financial aid offer.
Be sure to contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions or need assistance understanding or accepting your financial aid offer.
Accepting Your Financial Aid Offer
Let us know if you want to accept the funds included in your aid offer. Please notify us by accessing your aid offer in your Financial Aid Self Service Portal with the following instructions:
- Go to your .
- View the upper right side of the page and ensure you see South Dakota State and the 2025-2026 Award Year.
- Select View Questions in the red box under 鈥淩esponses Required鈥 and answer the questions (you can omit this step if you previously answered these questions).
- Select the Award Offer tab.
- Use the Take Action dropdown box to accept and decline individual awards.
- Select Submit at the bottom of the page.
Aid Offer Renewability
The information in this section will help you determine if the funds in your aid offer are renewable and if there are continuing eligibility requirements you must meet. You may also click on the fund name in your Financial Aid Self Service portal aid offer to view additional information specific to each offered fund.
Federal Title IV Financial Aid
Students must complete the FAFSA each year to continue receiving Federal Title IV Financial Aid. The FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year is available now.
To qualify for any Federal Title IV Financial Aid, students must meet 成人视频鈥檚 Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
Continuing eligibility for most federal awards is dependent on annual FAFSA results. Please review the following for renewability information about Title IV funds:
Direct Loans
Direct Loan eligibility is determined by grade level and unmet cost. Students with financial need may receive a portion of their eligibility as Direct Subsidized Loan. Please visit for additional information about loan limits, interest rates, and origination fees.
Pell Grant
Continuing eligibility for Pell Grants is based on your annual FAFSA results. Please visit for additional information about Pell Grant eligibility.
FSEOG
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded to students who are eligible to receive a Pell Grant and who have the most financial need and lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) from FAFSA. To be considered for the FSEOG grant, students must submit their FAFSAs on or before the March 1 FAFSA priority date.
Federal Work-Study
Students who receive and use a Federal Work-Study offer during their first year, will be prioritized for Work-Study offers in subsequent years as long as they continue utilizing Work-Study funds each year. Students will need to continue to have unmet financial need.
Work-Study funds are limited. Consequently, students should submit their FAFSAs on or before the March 1 priority date.
SDEAF Grant
To continue qualifying for the South Dakota Educational Access Foundation Grant, students must submit a FAFSA and demonstrate significant financial need. Generally, these grants are offered to students who:
- Are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
- Did not receive an FSEOG.
- Have a low Student Aid Index.
- Are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
- Submitted the FAFSA on or before the March 1 FAFSA priority date.
South Dakota Freedom Scholarship
The South Dakota Freedom Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for South Dakota residents. The scholarship is renewable for up to five years for students who:
- Continue to demonstrate a high level of financial need as indicated by the annual FAFSA results.
- Are meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
- Are on track to graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree within five years of starting at a school that awards the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship.
Renewal amounts are usually $3,000. Due to funding limitations, students should submit their FAFSAs on or before 成人视频鈥檚 March 1 priority date to ensure they are considered for renewal of this scholarship.
成人视频 Scholarships
Information about 成人视频 scholarship renewability is provided below.
Jackrabbit Guarantee
Students who qualify for the 成人视频 Jackrabbit Guarantee Program and who meet continuing eligibility requirements are eligible to receive 成人视频 scholarships in the amount of the guarantee for up to four consecutive years. The specific scholarships used to fulfill the guarantee may vary from year-to-year.
During the admissions process students who qualify for the Jackrabbit Guarantee Program receive a letter from the 成人视频 Admissions Office with the amount of their scholarship guarantee and the continuing eligibility requirements. For students who qualify as first-time students for the 2025-2026 academic year, the requirements include completing 24 成人视频 academic credits and maintaining a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
Students who are eligible for the Jackrabbit Guarantee at the higher Distinguished Scholars level must complete 24 成人视频 academic credits and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to remain eligible for the higher-level awards.
成人视频 Wokini Scholarship
Student who receive the 成人视频 Wokini Scholarship are eligible to receive the scholarship for $5,000 for five years as long as the students meet continuing eligibility requirements which include completing 24 academic credits each year and maintaining a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Athletic Scholarships
Scholarships awarded for participation and athletics may be renewable. Students should refer to their Athletic Aid Offer for information regarding renewability.
Performing Arts Scholarships
Students who are awarded talent or performing arts scholarships should refer to the documentation received when they were notified of the scholarship for information about the fund鈥檚 renewability.
The following performing arts scholarships are for first-year students only and are not renewable:
- Margaret and Leonard Balsinger Memorial Scholarship in Music.
- Theatre Campanile Scholarship.
- Music Campanile Scholarship.
First-Year Only Awards
成人视频 has some scholarships that are designated for incoming first-year students. Students who receive these scholarships are not eligible to renew these in subsequent years. These scholarships include:
- Jackrabbit Journey Scholarship.
- South Dakota Boys and Girls State Officer Scholarship.
Other 成人视频 Scholarships
Students may receive other one-time 成人视频 scholarships outside of the admission process. Scholarships awarded outside of the admissions process are not renewable.
South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship
The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is renewable for up to four years for students who meet the requirements. Please visit the for information about the continuing eligibility requirements.
South Dakota Needs Based Grant
The South Dakota Need Based Grant is allocated to incoming first-year students and is not renewable after the first year.
Work-Study Information
If you received Work-Study on your aid offer and plan to use it, you will need to accept it by Sept. 1. Starting in early August, students who have accepted Work-Study will receive a Work-Study Verification email. Students should present a copy of this email to potential Work-Study employers.
Students are responsible for finding their own Work-Study employment. Most on-campus positions are Work-Study eligible. Some off-campus jobs with nonprofit and governmental entities will also qualify. To search for jobs, visit the Office of Career Development's job-search platform. Many Work-Study jobs are also posted on bulletin boards around campus.
Students who use Work-Study earn the funds through eligible employment paid to students as a paycheck. The amount listed on your aid offer will not be applied to your student bill.
If you did not receive a Work-Study offer and are interested, please contact the Financial Aid Office after September 1 to check your eligibility for any unused funds.
Please visit Work-Study for more Information.
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 Update Housing Status and Cost of Attendance
Updating Housing Status
Your aid offer includes estimated costs for your living expenses based on whether you are living on-campus, off-campus or with a parent. Please review your living status on your financial aid self service to ensure it reflects where you will be living when you begin your attendance at 成人视频. To view your status log into your and follow the instructions below:
- Once in the portal, view the upper right side of the page and ensure you see South Dakota State and select the 2025-2026 Award Year.
- Select the Offer tab.
- Under the Cost of Attendance section you can view your living expenses status in the blue box.
Requesting a Cost of Attendance Increase
The components you see on your Financial Aid Offer that make up your Cost of Attendance are based on estimated amounts. If your actual costs are above the estimated costs on your aid offer, you can request an increase to your Cost of Attendance by completing our
Increasing your Cost of Attendance will not necessarily increase or change your aid offer. However, it will increase the maximum amount you are allowed to receive and may allow you to borrow additional private or Federal Parent PLUS loans.
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. |
