North Dakota Scholarships

The North Dakota Scholarship aims to align scholarship requirements to the Choice Ready initiative. One thing to keep in mind is that the requirements will align to Choice Ready, but are more rigorous than what is required for Choice Ready. The North Dakota Scholarship is worth $6,000 and can be used at approved colleges, universities, professional schools, and registered apprenticeship programs in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Scholarship has several components. The first component is the essential skills. All students must fulfill the requirements of the essential skills in order to be eligible for the scholarship. The next three components are Post-Secondary Ready, Workforce Ready, and Military. Students must meet 2 of those 3 components to be eligible. Any student that meets the essential skill requirements, as well as 2 of the 3 (Post-Secondary Ready, Workforce Ready, and Military Ready) components, qualifies for the North Dakota Scholarship. Please see the North Dakota Scholarship Framework for specific details on the requirements of each component of the North Dakota Scholarship Requirements.

To verify indicators for the North Dakota scholarship:

• Public schools need to ensure that the correct indicators are marked when they complete the Choice Ready report for each student. The due date for schools to complete the Choice Ready report is June 30. Any indicator that is not marked in the Choice Ready report will not be allowed to be used to meet scholarship eligibility criteria!
• Non-public schools need to complete and submit the Nonpublic School Verification Form.
• Parents of home-educated students need to complete, sign, have notarized, and submit the Home Education Verification Form.

North Dakota Scholarship Application

Online Scholarship Application will become available on January 05, 2026.

This online application is only to be used for students who graduated from high school as part of the Class of 2026. Students that have graduated high school prior to 2026 should contact Jim Upgren at 701-328-2244. Any scholarship application received after June 05, 2026 is not guaranteed to be processed in time for the student to receive scholarship money during the fall semester of 2026.

NORTH DAKOTA SCHOLARSHIP 

as aligned to the Choice Ready Framework. The North Dakota Scholarship framework is a tool to assist educators in understanding the requirements of the ND Scholarship, as listed in North Dakota Century Code 15.1-21-02.10. Requirements begin with the ESSENTIAL SKILLS section. Students shall then strive to be POST-SECONDARY READY, WORKFORCE READY, and/or MILITARY READY, according to the requirements listed online.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS 

• Earn a North Dakota high school diploma
• Complete a 9-week Career Education/Individual Counseling, 4-year Rolling Plan, pass ND Civics Test, earn a 3.0 or higher overall GPA, and four or more additional indicators:
  • 25 hours of Community Service
  • 95% Attendance (not counting school-related absences)
  • Career Exploration Experience
  • Two or more years in organized Co-Curricular Activities
  • Two or more years in organized Extra-Curricular Activities
  • Successfully complete a Capstone Project
  • Successfully complete an online learning course
  • Demonstrate competency in 21st Century Skills

Students shall achieve Essential Skills above, and complete two or more of the CHOICE READY components below to be eligible for the ND Scholarship.

POST-SECONDARY READY

Complete both indicator sets below:

ACT/SAT minimum composite score:

• ACT composite of 24 (or equivalent NDA+ score), or
• SAT composite of 1180

and Two or more additional indicators:

• Advanced Placement Course (A, B, or C) (4, 3, or 2)
• Dual Credit Course (English or Math) (A, B, or C) (4, 3, or 2)
• Algebra II (A, B, or C) (4, 3, or 2)
• Advanced Placement Exam (3+)
• International Baccalaureate Exam(4+)
• 3.0 GPA in core course requirements for NDUS admission
• 3 fine arts courses (A, B, or c) (4, 3, or 2)

WORKFORCE READY

Complete both indicator sets below:

• 4 credits of CTE with 2 credits in the same plan of study, OR 3 credits of the same world, indigenous, or sign language, OR 2 credits of teaching-related coursework plus 2 credits of CTE, as defined in NDCC 15.1-21-02.10
• ACT of 24 (or equivalent NDA+ score), or 5 or higher on all three WorkKeys tests, or SAT composite of 1180

and Two or more additional indicators:

• Complete Career Ready Practices Course
• Dual Credit Course (A, B, or C) (4, 3, or 2)
• Technical Assessment/Industry Credential
• Workplace Learning Experience (40 hrs.)
• Work-based Learning Experience (Perkins V) (40 hrs.)
• NDSA or NDA+(Reading/Math) Level 3 or greater

MILITARY READY

Complete both indicator sets below:

• ASVAB score of 50 or greater, or ASVAB score of 31 or greater and have completed Basic Training;
• Physically Fit Successfully complete required PE courses (A, B, or C) (4, 3, or 2); 

and one option below

• Complete two or more additional indicators from the Post-Secondary or Workforce options:
• 2 credits of military coursework, as defined in NDCC 15.1-21-02.10
• 2 credits of JROTC
• Complete Phase 1 of the Cadet Civil Air Patrol program