Guaranteed Scholarships
Guaranteed Scholarships are automatically awarded to new first-year and transfer students based on academic criteria and scholarship deadlines.
First-Year students admitted to NDSU who submit a final official high school transcript by July 1 are guaranteed a minimum scholarship amount based on the criteria below. | |
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Academic Requirements | Minimum Scholarship Amount |
3.98-4.00 GPA or 3.0+ GPA & 30+ ACT (1370+ SAT) | $3,000/year (maximum of four years) |
3.80-3.97 GPA | $2,000/year (maximum of four years) |
3.65-3.79 GPA | $1,500/year (maximum of four years) |
3.0-3.64 GPA | $1,000/year (maximum of four years) |
Scholarship Deadline: Students who submit the scholarship application on or before February 1 may be considered for additional one-time awards and higher-value renewable scholarships. All admitted students are encouraged to apply through the NDSU Scholarship Portal. | |
Note: If you receive a renewable scholarship exceeding the guaranteed minimum amount, the higher award will replace the lower one (not be added to it). |
Transfer students admitted to NDSU by August 1 who are working towards their first bachelor's degree are guaranteed a minimum scholarship based on the criteria below. | |
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Academic Requirements | Minimum Scholarship Amount |
3.5-4.0 GPA | $2,000 (renewable for one additional year) |
3.0-3.49 GPA | $1,000 (renewable for one additional year) |
Note: Students transferring to NDSU after attending another college or university for one semester or less may be considered for First-Year Guaranteed Scholarships. | |
Note: If you receive a renewable scholarship exceeding the guaranteed minimum amount, the higher award will replace the lower one (not be added to it). |
Named Scholarship Examples
Land Grant Access Award
North Dakota State University recognizes the benefits that a diverse student body has on all members of the NDSU community. As one of the land grant institutions in North Dakota, NDSU remains committed to our mission of providing an accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to students.

NDSU North Dakota Native American Scholarship Match
NDSU students who receive the North Dakota Native American Scholarship may be eligible for a $2,000/year scholarship match.

NDSU Tuition Award Program
For the 2024-25 academic year, eligible North Dakota and Minnesota students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7000 or less and are Pell-eligible will qualify for the NDSU Tuition Award Program. This program guarantees that base tuition and mandatory student fees are completely covered.
