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Minnesota's College Financial Aid Programs

Don't Spend a Fortune for School

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education administers scholarships and grants that assist state residents from minority students through those who have lived in foster care.

General Scholarships and Grants

The Minnesota State Grant is a state fund designated to assist middle and lower income students with financing the cost of a college education. Applicants must be enrolled in a state college or university to be eligible. Full-time enrollment is required and students apply by filling out the FAFSA.

The Child Care Grant helps those Minnesota students who have one or more children cover the cost for childcare so they may go to school. The program is need-based and the amount of each award is dependent on financial need, available funding and number of children in a household. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in a full-time state college or university.

Adult students are often overlooked or ignored when it comes to receiving college funding. In many cases students have been interrupted in mid-college career by family or financial issues that have displaced them from academic life. The Alliss Opportunity Grant Program provides much needed assistance to just such displaced adults. Those that have no previous degree and have not been enrolled in a college program for at least 7 years may qualify for the grant. Adult students must prove some financial need and be wishing to attend a state college or university.

The Dislocated Workers Grant Program also sustains the non-traditional adult learner who is forced to learn or be trained in a new technical or professional capacity. The program is designed for those individuals who are "dislocated" from employment. Those who qualify may receive free training and job placement.

The state's Presidential Freedom Scholarship targets junior and senior high school students who have shown participation in community service activities. Those most active may receive at least $1000 to put toward a college education. School administrators nominate eligible students.

The Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship picks up where the Robert C. Byrd Honors Program leaves off. While the Byrd program favors only those few top students, the Academic Excellence program targets a higher percentage of students. Students eligible for the award must exhibit academic talent in English, Math, Science, Art or a foreign language. Applicants must be planning on attending either a public or private college in Minnesota. Award amounts may be as much as the cost of tuition depending on funding and other factors.

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship rewards only the few most academically talented students. The federally funded program awards $1500 scholarships to honors-level students in every state. Students must possess the top SAT/ACT scores along with high GPAs. Those with demonstrated leadership abilities and those active in community programs are even more qualified. Students must already have been accepted into a college or university program anywhere in the United States. The scholarship is renewable for 3 years.

Minnesota has a number of federally recognized tribes located within the state that belong to the Sioux or Chippewa nations. Native Americans have been traditionally one of the most disadvantaged minority groups in the United States. However, in recent years many states with tribes have established grant and scholarship programs specially designed to assist Native American students with college costs. The Minnesota Indian Scholarship is designed to offer monetary gifts to those students who can prove at least one quarter Indian blood. Eligible students must also be enrolled in a state college or university and may either be studying at the undergraduate or graduate level. Because these students will be seriously economically disadvantaged, most will also be receiving Pell Grants. Awards may top $3000 and $6000 for undergraduate and graduate students, respectively. See more Native American related scholarships.

Minnesota is no exception when it comes to offering tuition waivers to children and dependents, as the case may be, to Public Safety Officers and Veterans who have been killed in the course of their duty or for students who have been in foster care and have had no traditional family to provide for a college education. Eligible students must be enrolled at one of the state colleges and universities to qualify for assistance or waiver:

Go to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website for complete details about the all of the financial aid listed above.

Specialized Studies Grants and Scholarships

If you are a Minnesota resident and studying in a state program for nursing or one of a dozen medical or allied health fields, you may want to consider one of the loan forgiveness programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Health. In exchange for tuition, eligible nurses, physicians and many other health professionals may agree to serve in a professional capacity in either an urban or rural facility within the state for a specified amount of time following graduation. Typically very urban or rural areas have been medically underserved. In response, state programs work very diligently to offer attractive incentives such as the loan forgiveness programs that place highly qualified health professionals in areas of much need. Minnesota Loan Forgiveness Programs are available for the following health care professionals:



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