Minnesota State Grant

State Grants help students from low- and moderate-income families pay for educational expenses at eligible Minnesota colleges or universities.

Grant Details Who is Eligible

Minnesota residents who:

• Are graduates of a secondary school or its equivalent, or are at least 17 years of age.
• Will be enrolled as undergraduates for at least three credits at one of more than 130 eligible schools in Minnesota.

Students who are in default on a student loan or who are more than 30 days behind on child support owed to a public agency are NOT eligible, unless they have established payment plans with the appropriate agency and made a series of on-time monthly payments. Click here for more information on reestablishing eligibility for financial aid after a federal student loan default.

Students may receive State Grants for four consecutive full-time quarters or three consecutive semesters during the course of a single fiscal year.

State Grants are limited to:

• Students who have not yet received the State Grant for eight full-time semesters of postsecondary education or the equivalent. Students who have withdrawn for active military service or for a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after December 31, 2002 are given an extra term of eligibility.
• Students who have NOT received a baccalaureate degree.

Students must reapply each year to be considered for a grant. A State Grant can be renewed for up to eight full-time semesters or twelve quarters (or their equivalent). However, the student must make satisfactory progress and demonstrate financial need as defined in state law.

Eligible Institutions

Eligible institutions include the state universities, the University of Minnesota, public community and technical colleges, schools of nursing and related health professions, private colleges, and private career institutions in Minnesota. For more information, contact the financial aid office at the school the student is attending or wishes to attend.

State Grants may not be used at out-of-state schools. However, Minnesota has tuition reciprocity agreements with several states and one Canadian province that may help reduce the price of a student's higher education.

How to Apply

There is no charge for applying to the Minnesota State Grant Program. Students can apply for a State Grant by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is used to determine the student's and family's expected financial contribution, and is the same form used to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and other types of aid from institutions.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, students must apply by the 30th day of the term.

Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA can apply for a Minnesota State Grant by completing the MN Dream Act application.