Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) is committed to making college affordable and accessible for all students and is encouraging current and incoming students to apply for scholarships for the Fall 2026 Semester by March 31. The Fall Semester will start in August.
More than $1.25 million in scholarship funding is available for the 2026–2027 award cohort. This includes more than $1 million in full-ride Build Dakota Scholarships, with more than 70 scholarships available across 21 eligible high-demand programs. In addition, the Western Dakota Tech (WDT) Foundation offers more than 30 additional scholarships totaling approximately $250,000.
WDTC’s scholarships are designed to support students pursuing in-demand, well-paying careers, and academic perfection is not required. Students do not need a 4.0 GPA to qualify, nor does someone need to be a recent high school graduate, and many scholarships consider a range of factors beyond grades.
“Students are sometimes surprised to learn how many scholarship opportunities they may qualify for,” said Andrew Kapelewski, WDTC Director of Foundation Development. “You don’t have to be a straight-A student to receive a scholarship at WDTC. Our goal is to remove financial barriers and help students afford college while preparing for meaningful careers.”
The scholarship application process at WDTC is simple. Students complete just two applications: one for the Build Dakota Scholarship and one universal WDT Foundation Scholarship application. The universal application automatically matches students with multiple scholarships, increasing their chances of receiving financial support.
Assistance is available throughout the process, and students are encouraged to reach out with questions or for help completing applications.
More information and application links are available at wdt.edu/scholarships. For personalized assistance, contact WDTC Foundation Outreach Specialist Tanner Conley at (605) 718-3066 or email Foundation@wdt.edu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Western Dakota Technical College
Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) was established in 1968 and is the only technical college serving the western South Dakota region.
WDTC offers nearly 40 programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction and Manufacturing, Energy and Environmental Technologies, Health Sciences, Legal and Public Services, and Transportation Technologies.
One hundred percent of Western Dakota Technical College's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or are enlisted in the military per the WDTC 2024 Placement Report. There were 249 respondents out of 286 graduates surveyed. [*Placement information is derived from graduate surveys, faculty-collected data, placement surveys started six months after graduation, and the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Overall placement rate is figured by: (responding graduates employed, continuing education, or in military service)/(responding graduates who are seeking employment). The number of program graduates are unduplicated by CIP code.]
Western Dakota Technical College faculty, staff, and leadership focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, WDTC students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.
For information about WDTC, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to Admissions@wdt.edu. Visit us on the web at wdt.edu.
