23.0941.01000
Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1451
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Ostlie, Jonas, Schreiber-Beck
Senators Axtman, Conley
1 A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 15.1-21-02.6 of the North Dakota Century
2 Code, relating to the North Dakota scholarship; and to provide an appropriation.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
4 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 15.1-21-02.6 of the North Dakota Century Code is
5 amended and reenacted as follows:
6 15.1-21-02.6. North Dakota scholarship - Amount - Applicability. (Effective through
7 July 31, 20242030)
8 1. a. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
9 from high school in 2022 or before and who is certified as being eligible by the
10 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship, a North Dakota
11 academic scholarship, or a North Dakota career and technical education
12 scholarship in the amount of seven hundred fifty dollars for each semester during
13 which the student is enrolled full time at an accredited institution of higher
14 education with a physical presence in this state, maintains a cumulative grade
15 point average of 2.75, and maintains progress toward program completion.
16 b. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
17 from high school in 2022 or before and who is certified as being eligible by the
18 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship, a North Dakota
19 academic scholarship, or a North Dakota career and technical education
20 scholarship in the amount of five hundred dollars for each quarter or clock-hour
21 term during which the student is enrolled full time at an accredited institution of
22 higher education with a physical presence in this state or an accredited private
23 career school with a physical presence in this state, maintains a cumulative
24 grade point average of 2.75, and maintains progress toward program completion.
Page No. 1 23.0941.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 c. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
2 from high school in 2023 or after and who is certified as being eligible by the
3 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship, a North Dakota
4 academic scholarship, or a North Dakota career and technical education
5 scholarship in the amount of one thousand two hundred fifty dollars for each
6 semester during which the student is enrolled full time at an accredited institution
7 of higher education with a physical presence in this state or an accredited private
8 career school with a physical presence in this state, maintains a cumulative
9 grade point average of 2.75, and maintains progress toward program completion.
10 d. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
11 from high school in 2023 or after and who is certified as being eligible by the
12 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship, a North Dakota
13 academic scholarship, or a North Dakota career and technical education
14 scholarship in the amount of eight hundred thirty-three dollars for each quarter or
15 clock-hour term during which the student is enrolled full time at an accredited
16 institution of higher education with a physical presence in this state or an
17 accredited private career school with a physical presence in this state, maintains
18 a cumulative grade point average of 2.75, and maintains progress toward
19 program completion.
20 2. The state board shall monitor each scholarship recipient to ensure that the student
21 meets the academic and other requirements of this section. Upon determining a
22 recipient student has failed to meet the requirements of this section, the board shall
23 provide notification to the student within ten business days.
24 3. A student who graduated from high school in 2022 or before is not entitled to receive
25 more than six thousand dollars under this section. A student who graduated from high
26 school in 2023 or after is not entitled to receive more than ten thousand dollars under
27 this section.
28 4. The state board of higher education shall forward the scholarship directly to the
29 institution in which the student is enrolled.
30 5. a. This section does not require a student to be enrolled in consecutive semesters,
31 quarters, or clock-hour terms.
Page No. 2 23.0941.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 b. A scholarship under this section is valid only for six academic years after the
2 student's graduation from high school and may be applied to a graduate or
3 professional program.
4 6. A scholarship under this section is available to any eligible resident student who fulfills
5 the requirements of section 15.1-21-02.4, section 15.1-21-02.5, or section
6 15.1-21-02.10 and who:
7 a. Graduates from a high school in this state;
8 b. Graduates from a high school in a bordering state under chapter 15.1-29;
9 c. Graduates from a nonpublic high school in a bordering state while residing with a
10 custodial parent in this state; or
11 d. Completes a program of home education supervised in accordance with chapter
12 15.1-23.
13 7. a. For purposes of North Dakota scholarship eligibility under this section, "full-time"
14 has the same meaning as the term is defined by the institution the student is
15 attending.
16 b. A student who is enrolled less than full-time may retain scholarship eligibility if the
17 student is in the final semester, quarter, or clock-hour term before program
18 completion. The waiver of the full-time enrollment status requirement for
19 scholarship eligibility may not apply to a student more than once.
20 c. For the purpose of North Dakota scholarship eligibility under this section,
21 "progress toward program completion" means earning the following minimum
22 number of credits after each semester, quarter, or clock-hour term disbursement
23 to qualify for the subsequent disbursement:
24 (1) Twenty-four credits after disbursement two;
25 (2) Thirty-nine credits after disbursement three;
26 (3) Fifty-four credits after disbursement four;
27 (4) Sixty-nine credits after disbursement five;
28 (5) Eighty-four credits after disbursement six; and
29 (6) Ninety-nine credits after disbursement seven.
Page No. 3 23.0941.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 8. For purposes of scholarship eligibility under this section, "clock-hour term" has the
2 same meaning as the term is defined by the state board of higher education. The state
3 board of higher education shall determine the conversion of:
4 a. Clock hours to credit hours; and
5 b. Percentage-based grading to grade point average.
6 15.1-21-02.6. North Dakota scholarship - Amount - Applicability. (Effective after
7 July 31, 20242030)
8 1. a. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
9 from high school in 2022 or before and who is certified as being eligible by the
10 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship in the amount of
11 seven hundred fifty dollars for each semester during which the student is enrolled
12 full time at an accredited institution of higher education with a physical presence
13 in this state, maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.75, and maintains
14 progress toward program completion.
15 b. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
16 from high school in 2022 or before and who is certified as being eligible by the
17 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship in the amount of
18 five hundred dollars for each quarter or clock-hour term during which the student
19 is enrolled full time at an accredited institution of higher education with a physical
20 presence in this state or an accredited private career school with a physical
21 presence in this state, maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.75, and
22 maintains progress toward program completion.
23 c. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
24 from high school in 2023 or later and who is certified as being eligible by the
25 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship in the amount of
26 one thousand two hundred fifty dollars for each semester during which the
27 student is enrolled full time at an accredited institution of higher education with a
28 physical presence in this state, maintains a cumulative grade point average of
29 2.75, and maintains progress toward program completion.
30 d. The state board of higher education shall provide to any student who graduated
31 from high school in 2023 or later and who is certified as being eligible by the
Page No. 4 23.0941.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 superintendent of public instruction a North Dakota scholarship in the amount of
2 eight hundred thirty-three dollars for each quarter or clock-hour term during which
3 the student is enrolled full time at an accredited institution of higher education
4 with a physical presence in this state or an accredited private career school with
5 a physical presence in this state, maintains a cumulative grade point average of
6 2.75, and maintains progress toward program completion.
7 2. The state board shall monitor each scholarship recipient to ensure the student meets
8 the academic and other requirements of this section. Upon determining a recipient
9 student has failed to meet the requirements of this section, the board shall provide
10 notification to the student within ten business days.
11 3. A student who graduated from high school in 2022 or before is not entitled to receive
12 more than six thousand dollars under this section. A student that graduated from high
13 school in 2023 or after is not entitled to receive more than ten thousand dollars under
14 this section.
15 4. The state board of higher education shall forward the scholarship directly to the
16 institution in which the student is enrolled.
17 5. a. This section does not require a student to be enrolled in consecutive semesters,
18 quarters, or clock-hour terms.
19 b. A scholarship under this section is valid only for six academic years after the
20 student's graduation from high school and may be applied to a graduate or
21 professional program.
22 6. A scholarship under this section is available to any eligible resident student who fulfills
23 the requirements of section 15.1-21-02.10 and who:
24 a. Graduates from a high school in this state;
25 b. Graduates from a high school in a bordering state under chapter 15.1-29;
26 c. Graduates from a nonpublic high school in a bordering state while residing with a
27 custodial parent in this state; or
28 d. Completes a program of home education supervised in accordance with chapter
29 15.1-23.
Page No. 5 23.0941.01000
 Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly
1 7. a. For purposes of North Dakota scholarship eligibility under this section, "full-time"
2 has the same meaning as the term is defined by the institution the student is
3 attending.
4 b. A student who is enrolled less than full-time may retain scholarship eligibility if the
5 student is in the final semester, quarter, or clock-hour term before program
6 completion. The waiver of the full-time enrollment status requirement for
7 scholarship eligibility may not apply to a student more than once.
8 c. For the purpose of North Dakota scholarship eligibility under this section,
9 "progress toward program completion" means earning the following minimum
10 number of credits after each semester, quarter, or clock-hour term disbursement
11 to qualify for the subsequent disbursement:
12 (1) Twenty-four credits after disbursement two;
13 (2) Thirty-nine credits after disbursement three;
14 (3) Fifty-four credits after disbursement four;
15 (4) Sixty-nine credits after disbursement five;
16 (5) Eighty-four credits after disbursement six; and
17 (6) Ninety-nine credits after disbursement seven.
18 8. For purposes of scholarship eligibility under this section, "clock-hour term" has the
19 same meaning as the term is defined by the state board of higher education. The state
20 board of higher education shall determine the conversion of:
21 a. Clock hours to credit hours; and
22 b. Percentage-based grading to grade point average.
23 SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - STATE BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION - ACADEMIC,
24 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND NORTH DAKOTA SCHOLARSHIPS. There is
25 appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise
26 appropriated, the sum of $5,554,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the state
27 board of higher education for the purpose of providing financial assistance to students eligible
28 for the academic, career and technical education, and North Dakota scholarship program, for
29 the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025.
Page No. 6 23.0941.01000


Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15.1-21-02.6
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15.1-21-02.6