Additional Assistance for Guard and Reserve
Members of the South Dakota National Guard should complete an application for tuition assistance on line at http://www.virtualarmory.com [External Hyperlink]. This application is used to apply for both 50% South Dakota tuition reduction and Federal Tuition Assistance.  Please direct questions about this program to the Camp Rapid Office at 605-737-6729

Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard should contact their unit to receive 50% South Dakota tuition reduction.  

Veterans Free Tuition For Undergraduates Taking State Support Credits.

1)    Must have been discharged under "Honorable conditions", must be a current resident of South Dakota, and must qualify for resident tuition at the University.

2)    Must have used up all entitlement to, or not be eligible for, any educational benefits from the Federal government.

3)    Must meet the definition of a “veteran” which is as follows:

a.    Served on Active Duty at any time form August 2, 1990 through a date to be determined by the SD State Legislature, OR;

b.    Was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary , or other United States Campaign or Service Medal for participation in combat operations against hostile forces, during dates other than those specified in 3.a. (see above), or;

c.     Has a service connected disability rated by the Veterans Administration as 10%, or more, disabling.

4)    Veterans have twenty (20) years from the ending date of the particular conflict during which they served and earned eligibility for this program, or six years following discharge, whichever date is later, to use the free tuition program.

a.    Veterans who qualify because of a service-connected disability have twenty (20) years from the date they were originally rated by the VA as 10%, or more, disabled.

5)    The veterans are entitled to one month of free tuition for each month of qualifying service with a minimum of one, up to a maximum of four academic years. Qualifying service is defined as the amount of time served on Active Duty between the beginning and ending dates of the particular conflict or period of hostilities during which the veteran earned eligibility for the program.

6)  Only state-support credits are eligible for the tuition waiver.  The self-support tuition rate is not eligible for South Dakota Veterans Free Tuition benefits.

7)    To determine eligibility veterans should contact the SDSU Financial Aid Office 605-688-4695.

Children and Spouses of National Guardsmen Disabled or Deceased in Line of Duty:

South Dakota Residents under the age of 25 years whose father, Mother, or spouse died or sustained a total permenent disability resulting from duty as a member of the South Dakota National Guard, while on state active duty or any authorized training duty, shall be entitled to tuition without cost and be entitled to attend any course or courses of study.

Non-resident South Dakota National Guard Members:

Non-resident members of the South Dakota National Guard shall be appropriately classified as non-residents, but shall receive a reduced tuition benefit equal to residents of the South Dakota National Guard.  the non-resident rate assessed will be reduced by the value of the benefit received by South Dakota residents of the National Guard, the adjustment being one-half of the resident tuition rate.