REDUCED TUITION
Employees of the State of South Dakota
Background Information
As established by law (see
SDCL § 3-20-1) state employees who meet certain criteria are eligible for a reduced tuition program. Eligibility requirements include the following:
- Continuous employment with the state of South Dakota for a minimum of one year
- Position classification of benefits-eligible
- Established residency in South Dakota
- Cumulative collegiate GPA (grade point average) of 2.0 or higher
- Good employment standing
Following eligibility verification, assessed tuition rate for one to six credit hours (per semester) will be reduced; this reduction is equal to 50% of the current resident rate for course work that is classified as state-support (primarily those classes that entail face-to-face instruction provided on a main university campus). Example:
IF the current resident tuition rate were $120, then the reduction afforded to state employees would equal $60 per credit hour. See additional notes of relevance below:
- This reduction applies only to tuition, not to fees.
- Academic level of chosen course work may be undergraduate or graduate.
- Courses must involve face-to-face instruction provided on a main university campus or one of the three learning centers (Sioux Falls, Pierre, and Rapid City). For further explanation, please contact one of the offices listed below.
- The program does
not include courses offered at off-main university campus locations beyond the learning centers or those that entail distance learning.
Application Process
To apply for this reduced tuition program, please print a hard copy of the
application, complete it as directed, and then obtain certification as requested from your employer. Prior to course registration, submit the signed form to the Registrar’s Office at your regental university of choice.
Note: Approval is conferred only for the current term. Consequently, the application process must be completed every semester.
Campus Contacts
For follow-up questions, please contact the specified office at your chosen university:
- Black Hills State University - Spearfish: Student Financial Services/Business Office: 605-642-6941
- Dakota State University - Madison: Cashier's Office: 605-256-5271
- Northern State University - Aberdeen: Student Affairs/Enrollment Services: 605-626-2544
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Rapid City: Human Resources: 605-394-1203
- South Dakota State University - Brookings: Human Resources: 605-688-4128
- University of South Dakota - Vermillion: Registrar's Office: 605-677-5339
