Minnesota State Grant

Scholarship Sponsored by Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Overview
State Grants provide financial help to Minnesota residents from low- and moderate-income households to cover college costs at qualifying Minnesota postsecondary institutions.

Who is eligible
- Must be a Minnesota resident.
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED), or be at least 17 years old.
- Must be enrolled as an undergraduate for a minimum of three credits at one of the more than 130 eligible Minnesota colleges or universities.

Ineligibility and reinstatement
- Applicants who are in default on a federal student loan or who are over 30 days delinquent on child support owed to a public agency are not eligible unless they have set up an approved repayment plan with the agency and have made a series of on-time monthly payments. Guidance is available on how to reestablish financial aid eligibility after a federal loan default.

Award limits and duration
- Within a single fiscal year, a student may receive State Grant funding for up to four consecutive full-time quarters or three consecutive semesters.
- A student is limited to receiving State Grants for no more than eight full-time semesters (or the equivalent). This can be renewed up to eight semesters or twelve quarters total, provided the student continues to demonstrate financial need as defined by state law and maintains satisfactory academic progress.
- Students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are not eligible.
- An extra term of eligibility is granted to students who withdrew to enter active military service or who withdrew for a major medical illness while under a physician’s care after December 31, 2002.

Eligible institutions
State Grants may be used at:
- Minnesota state universities, the University of Minnesota, public community and technical colleges,
- Schools of nursing and related health professions,
- Private colleges and private career schools located in Minnesota.

State Grant funds cannot be used at out-of-state institutions. (Minnesota does, however, have tuition reciprocity agreements with several U.S. states and one Canadian province that may reduce out-of-state costs in some cases.)

How to apply
- There is no fee to apply.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for a Minnesota State Grant. The FAFSA calculates the expected family contribution and is also used for Federal Pell Grants and many other federal and institutional aid programs.
- If a student is not eligible to file the FAFSA, they may apply using the MN Dream Act application.

Important application deadline
- Beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year, students must submit their application by the 30th day of the term.

Students must reapply each year to remain eligible for State Grants. For specific questions or to confirm a school’s eligibility, contact the financial aid office at the institution you attend or plan to attend.