18 Scholarships for Students in North Dakota in 2021
With at least twenty-one colleges and universities in this midwestern state, students flock to North Dakota institutions to further their education. Here are 18 scholarships in North Dakota that can help you get started with your college career.
- 1) North Dakota Academic Scholarship
- 2) Our First Amendment Freedoms Art & Essay Contest
- 3) Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship
- 4) Celebrate The West High School Art Competition
- 5) BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship
- 6) North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant Program
- 7) The Horatio Alger Association Scholarship
- 8) North Dakota Career and Technical Education Scholarship
- 9) KASF Scholarship
- 10) RMCMI Engineering & Geology Scholarship
- 11) RMCMI Technical Scholarship
- 12) Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter/Foundation Scholarships
- 13) AIST Midwest Member Chapter Scholarships
- 14) North Dakota Scholars Program
- 15) North Dakota Indian Scholarship
- 16) America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship
- 17) Ruth Peterson Memorial (Kappa Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon) Scholarship
- Start applying for scholarships in North Dakota today

1) North Dakota Academic Scholarship
Amount: Total value is $6,000, disbursed $750 per semester or $500 per quarter
Provider: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Requirements: Must be a graduating high school senior, North Dakota resident, U.S. citizen, planning to enroll in college full time.
The North Dakota Academic Scholarship automatically renews each year.
2) Our First Amendment Freedoms Art & Essay Contest
Amount: Up to $5,000
Provider: Anti-Defamation League
Requirements: Must be a student in North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, or Minnesota, submit an essay.
Students who apply to Our First Amendment Freedoms Art & Essay Contest must submit a personal example or experience, describing how one of the five freedoms in the First Amendment affects your daily life.
3) Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Amount: Up to $1,500
Provider: Community Foundation of Dunn County
Requirements: Must hold a current Private Pilot Certificate, plan to pursue advanced training in aviation in the Midwest, provide a resume and one letter of recommendation related to aviation skills, one-page essay.
The Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship honors Bill Cowden, a private pilot, commercial airline pilot, North Dakota Air National Guard F-16 pilot, and air show performer. Bill passed away in an air show performance accident. This scholarship is available each year to support pilots financially and encourages pilots to obtain higher ratings in aviation.
4) Celebrate The West High School Art Competition
Amount: Up to $1,500
Provider: Western Governors’ Association
Celebrate The West High School Art Competition is a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their state. Submissions are due in April, and winners will be announced at the WGA Annual Meeting in North Dakota.
5) BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota
Requirements: Must submit an essay
The BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship awards high school graduates who demonstrate high moral character. The scholarship award will be sent directly to the college or university of the student’s choice.
6) North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant Program
Amount: Up to $1,100 per semester or $733 per quarter, based on enrollment status
Provider: North Dakota University System
Requirements: Must be a North Dakota resident, graduated from a high school in ND or in a bordering state.
The North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant Program awards a non-repayable grant to first-time undergraduate students attending a qualifying North Dakota college.
7) The Horatio Alger Association Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.
Requirements: To be eligible for The Horatio Alger Association Scholarship, applicants must be attending or planning to attend a college in North Dakota.
8) North Dakota Career and Technical Education Scholarship
Amount: Total value is $6,000, disbursed $750 per semester or $500 per quarter
Provider: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Requirements: Must be a graduating high school senior, North Dakota resident, U.S. citizen, planning to enroll in college full time.
The North Dakota Career and Technical Education Scholarship is disbursed either per semester or per quarter.
9) KASF Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Korean American Scholarship Foundation
Requirements: Residency in a Midwestern state, Minimum GPA of 3.0, Financial need
The KASF Scholarship is offered by the Korean American Scholarship Foundation and awards both U.S. citizens and foreign students in any Midwestern state (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Any major can apply!
10) RMCMI Engineering & Geology Scholarship
Amount: $5,500 (over 2 years)
Provider: RMCMI: Promote Western Coal Through Education
Requirements: The RMCMI Engineering & Geology Scholarship requires residency in one of eight RMCMI member states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, or Wyoming). Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen and intend to develop a career in the coal industry.
The RMCMI, founded in 1912, is a non-profit organization that aims to promote Western coal through education by sponsoring educational programs relating to coal mining technologies and production techniques, mining management and safety, and laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to coal mining and other energy-related issues.
11) RMCMI Technical Scholarship
Another scholarship sponsored by RMCMI is the RMCMI Technical Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded specifically to students in North Dakota pursuing an education in a technology-related field that can benefit the coal mining industry.
Amount: $1,000
Provider: RMCMI: Promote Western Coal Through Education
Requirements: Enrollment in a technical program at a two-year school, U.S. Citizen, Intention to use skills in the coal industry, residency in one of eight RMCMI member states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, or Wyoming)
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12) Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter/Foundation Scholarships
Amount: $1,500
Provider: National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Upper Midwest Foundation
Requirements: Must reside in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa or western Wisconsin.
The Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter/Foundation Scholarships are regional scholarships awarded to students who plan to study media production or journalism in college.
13) AIST Midwest Member Chapter Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Provider: Association for Iron and Steel Technology
Requirements: The AIST Midwest Member Chapter Scholarships requires applicants to be enrolled in or plan to enroll in a university, have an AIST Parent Member active in the AIST Midwest Member Chapter, or be an AIST Student Member through the Material Advantage Student Program, who attends a university within the Midwest Member Chapter area, and submit an essay.

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14) North Dakota Scholars Program
Amount: Varies
Provider: North Dakota University System
Requirements: Must be a North Dakota high school grad who plans to attend a North Dakota college or university, score at or above the ninety-fifth percentile among those who took the ACT.
The North Dakota Scholars Program scholarship amount will be equal to the regular undergraduate tuition rate charged at the scholar’s college or university.
15) North Dakota Indian Scholarship
Amount: Up to $2,000 annually
Provider: North Dakota University System
Requirements: Applicants of the North Dakota Indian Scholarship must be a North Dakota resident, enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, accepted to a North Dakota post-secondary institution, and enrolled full time.
This scholarship is awarded based on a priority awarding process as funding is limited.
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16) America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders
Requirements: To qualify for the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship, applicants must be a Future Farmers of America member in one of the following states: ND, SD, CA, IL, IA, KS, MN, MT, NE, or TX, and must be enrolled in a college studying one of the following areas of agriculture: business management, economics, finance and sales and marketing.
17) Ruth Peterson Memorial (Kappa Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon) Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: The American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Requirements: Must be enrolled in occupational therapy program at the University of North Dakota, resume with volunteer experience, essay, and letters of recommendation. Check out the Ruth Peterson Memorial (Kappa Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon) Scholarship.

Start applying for scholarships in North Dakota today
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