Hack into STEM at DSU.

Dakota State University (DSU), through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF Award ID Number 2325924), has funding for scholarships to students majoring in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cyber Operations or Mathematics. During academic years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, DSU has funding for six students who meet the scholarship eligibility requirements (see below). The scholarships are for an amount up to $15,000 annually for up to five years for those maintaining eligibility requirements (the amount of each scholarship is based on unmet financial need indicated yearly by Pell grant eligibility).

The scholarship provides more than just funding for students receiving the scholarship. Participating students will also receive a $1000 stipend for attending the summer Bridge program which is held the week before the start of the fall semester in the first year of receiving the scholarship (participating students also move into the dorms a week early). During the academic year, students will be encouraged to engage in an undergraduate research seminar and there is support for both travel and publication costs to disseminate student research. There will also be regularly scheduled study tables with supplemental instruction tutors and program directors to answer student questions.

Eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for the GROWSTEM Scholarship a student must meet the following requirements:

  1. Students must be undergraduate students majoring in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cyber Operations, or Mathematics at Dakota State University, and be enrolled at least half-time.
  2. Students must demonstrate academic ability defined in the GROWSTEM program to be an overall GPA greater than or equal to 2.5 coming into DSU as either a college transfer student or from high school and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher as a Dakota State University student (this will be verified initially for each Scholar as well as before each semester a Scholar participates in the program). Scholars whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 will have one semester to regain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to remain in the GROWSTEM program.
  3. Students must be Pell Grant eligible based on the expected family contribution which is calculated from the information on the student’s FAFSA (a current FAFSA application is required to apply for the scholarship and for the scholarship to be renewed in subsequent years). The Financial Aid Office will verify that each student that applies is eligible before GROWSTEM Scholars are selected as well as for the renewal of scholarships.
  4. Students must be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States, aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
  5. Students must have demonstrated unmet financial need as calculated based on the cost of attendance and the student FAFSA, which will be determined by the Dakota State University Financial Aid Office5. Students must have demonstrated unmet financial need as calculated based on the cost of attendance and the student FAFSA, which will be determined by the Dakota State University Financial Aid Office.

Application Timeline

  • March 15 - Scholarship Application Available
  • May 31 - Scholarship Application Closes
  • June 10-14 - Finalist Zoom Interviews Concluded
  • June 17 - GROWSTEM Scholars Selected