North Dakota State's 2027-28 guaranteed scholarships pay $1,000 to $3,000 a year for up to four years, starting at a 3.0 GPA. The top $3,000 tier has two ways in: a 3.98+ GPA alone, or any 3.0+ GPA with a 30 ACT (1370 SAT).
North Dakota State University calls these awards guaranteed minimums for admitted first-year students. They're confirmed with your final official high school transcript. For how charts like this work in general, see what an automatic scholarship chart is.
NDSU scholarship chart (2027-28)
| High school GPA | ACT / SAT | Award per year |
|---|---|---|
| 3.98-4.00 | Not needed | $3,000 |
| 3.0+ | 30+ ACT or 1370+ SAT | $3,000 |
| 3.80-3.97 | Not needed | $2,000 |
| 3.65-3.79 | Not needed | $1,500 |
| 3.0-3.64 | Not needed | $1,000 |
Every award is for a maximum of four years. The page lists no separate chart for out-of-state students.
The part that surprises people: a 30 ACT is worth as much as a near-perfect GPA
Most of the chart is GPA-only, and the GPA bands are narrow at the top: the $3,000 tier needs a 3.98, two hundredths below a 4.0. But a 30 ACT (or 1370 SAT) unlocks that same $3,000 from as low as a 3.0 GPA.
So a student with a 3.5 GPA gets $1,000 a year on GPA alone, or $3,000 a year with a 30 ACT. Over four years, that's $8,000 more. The University of North Dakota uses the same two-path idea (a 3.90 GPA or a 30 ACT with a 3.0), so a 30 ACT reaches the top tier at both North Dakota publics.
The awards don't stack
NDSU states that these scholarships are not cumulative. If NDSU offers you a higher renewable scholarship through its other awards, that one replaces the guaranteed minimum. You get the larger award, not both.
Deadlines
- December 1: first scholarship round. Offers by December 31, accept by January 31.
- February 1: second round. Offers by February 28, accept by May 1.
- After February 1: applications are reviewed while funds remain.
- July 1: final transcripts and test scores due to confirm the guaranteed award.
- May 1: confirm your plans to attend.
What this means for you
- If your GPA is between 3.0 and 3.97, a 30 ACT or 1370 SAT is the fastest way to the top tier. It's worth $1,000 to $2,000 more each year.
- Out-of-state students use the same chart. No separate non-resident table is posted.
- Apply by December 1 to be in the first scholarship round.
- Compare it with the University of North Dakota and Montana, or check every chart at once with the scholarship finder.