New $50 Million PREMIER Scholarship Fund Announced

A new $50 million scholarship fund will be available to University of Sioux Falls students and those at seven other South Dakota universities. USF is grateful for the PREMIER Scholarship Fund, a $50 million endowment gift from Denny Sanford and First PREMIER Bank, PREMIER Bankcard. The scholarship is the state’s first need-based scholarship fund and is projected to reach $200 million with additional financial support. 
 
The first scholarships will start in the 2022-23 school year.
 
The scholarship qualifications for students is based on a formula that considers cost of attendance, family income and financial need. Students do not have to be a South Dakota resident to apply, but they are required to work in South Dakota for three years after graduation in any field or pay the scholarship back.
 
The scholarship not only means more affordability options in higher education but also encourages talented graduates to join the local workforce. A survey of its 2019 graduating class shows that 79% of USF graduates started their careers in South Dakota, and of those, 88% lived in Sioux Falls or within 30 miles.