Starting with the Class of 2025, new Academic and CTE Scholarship awards were replaced by the North Dakota Scholarship; earlier recipients keep remaining eligibility under prior programs. The new award encourages rigorous high-school coursework and enrollment at an eligible in-state college or training program.
The program publishes course and testing criteria used to establish eligibility, plus an application through the Department of Public Instruction. Each payment requires full-time enrollment, a minimum 2.75 GPA, and cumulative credit/hour milestones: 24 for payment three, 39 for payment four, 54 for payment five, and 69 for payment six. Certain North Dakota registered apprenticeships have their own pathway.
The total value is up to $6,000; each payment is capped at $750 per semester or $500 per quarter, clock-hour term, or apprenticeship term depending on schedule. Students have six years after graduation to use it. Aid may be reduced if total grants and scholarships exceed cost of attendance; it is applied through the school account, not unrestricted cash.
Complete required high-school coursework, ask your counselor to certify it, and apply through the Department of Public Instruction. Once enrolled, ask financial aid how it defines full time and ensure grades, GPA, and credits are reported before each payment. DPI handles academic eligibility at 701-328-2244; NDUS handles program questions at ndfinaid@ndus.edu.
Before accepting an aid package, compare your individual notice with the bill and ask what happens if you change enrollment, major, or campus. Read the program profile and consult the administering agency; your institution’s financial-aid office confirms your individual determination.
North Dakota Scholarship — North Dakota University System.
North Dakota Scholarship Guidelines — North Dakota University System.
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction — North Dakota DPI.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Deadlines for the 2026–27 cycle have passed for several programs; they are identified as past dates where relevant. Eligibility does not guarantee funding: confirm the academic year, your file, and net cost with the program and your campus financial-aid office.
This is a milestone-based scholarship: graduating with eligibility is not enough; each payment requires the next credit target and a 2.75 GPA.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
North Dakota Scholarship
Up to $6,000 over six years; term payments require full-time enrollment, a 2.75 GPA, and cumulative credit/hour milestones.
State student financial-aid program
North Dakota University System (NDUS) and Department of Public Instruction
The agency validates high-school criteria; the college confirms enrollment, GPA, and progress for each disbursement.
Public student financial-aid agency
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
North Dakota University System · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
North Dakota University System · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
North Dakota DPI · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
North Dakota University System · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
North Dakota University System · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
North Dakota University System · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of North Dakota University System (NDUS) and Department of Public Instruction ↗
Primary source
North Dakota DPI · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.