Minnesota offers two state-aid paths that do not mean the same thing on a college bill. Minnesota State Grant is need-based assistance at more than 130 eligible schools, including participating private colleges; North Star Promise (NSP) is last-dollar aid for residents at public institutions and Tribal Colleges. State Grant calculates need using attendance cost and expected contribution; NSP fills only the remaining base tuition and mandatory-fee balance after other nonrepayable aid. Read the separate profiles for North Star Promise and Minnesota State Grant before estimating what you may receive.
For NSP, family AGI must be below $80,000; the student must be a Minnesota resident, take at least one credit in a degree, diploma or certificate program at an eligible public or Tribal College, maintain satisfactory progress, avoid student-loan default and have no prior bachelor’s degree. Apply through FAFSA or the Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application; there is no separate NSP form. For 2026–27, OHE required one of those applications by June 1, 2026. That date has passed and requests were prioritized in order until funds ran out; ask your campus whether your case can still be considered, and do not treat apparent eligibility as a guaranteed award.
State Grant follows different rules. Apply through FAFSA or the alternative form if you cannot complete FAFSA. Beginning in 2025–26, the application must be filed by the 30th day of the academic term. More than 130 Minnesota schools are eligible, public and private, but out-of-state schools are not. Students can be considered at three credits; full-time for the full amount means 15 credits per semester. Fewer credits reduce the attendance budget, while the student or family contribution is not reduced proportionally, so a lighter course load can change both eligibility and award size.
The calculation explains why income alone or an early estimate is not enough. State Grant uses tuition and fees within state limits plus a standard allowance for housing and food, books and other expenses; the college calculates and includes the amount in its offer. NSP instead subtracts Pell, scholarships, waivers and other nonrepayable aid from base tuition and universally mandatory fees. It excludes housing, food, books, transport, major-specific fees and surcharges above base tuition. In May 2026, students asked whether NSP reduced a refund; in July, one student said State Grant was missing. These individual accounts can suggest questions about aid order and billing, but they do not establish a statewide rule.
When your offer arrives, ask the aid office to separate each program, academic year, approved amount and disbursement status. Confirm Minnesota residency, AGI used, FAFSA or alternative-application date, enrolled credits, academic progress, calculated cost and outside scholarships. If a grant is missing, ask whether verification remains or eligibility changed; if NSP is zero, ask which other aid already covered tuition. Compare what remains for living costs and what must be paid separately. Minnesota OHE maintains the rules in St. Paul, while the college reviews and communicates your individual file.
Compare the options and confirm eligibility and deadlines directly with the program before applying.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
North Star Promise — Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
North Star Promise (NSP) is Minnesota aid that fills the remaining base tuition and mandatory-fee balance after other non-repayable aid. Its last-dollar design explains why a student may meet the rules and still receive little or no NSP: Pell, scholarships, waivers and grants are applied first. The
For Minnesota residents with family AGI below $80,000 at public institutions or Tribal Colleges; last-dollar aid for base tuition and mandatory fees
Minnesota State Grant — Office of Higher Education
Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Minnesota State Grant is need-based state aid that helps low- and moderate-income students with education costs at more than 130 eligible Minnesota institutions, both public and private. It differs from North Star Promise: the State Grant uses attendance cost and student or family contribution to ca
Need-based undergraduate aid at more than 130 eligible Minnesota public or private institutions; apply through FAFSA or the state alternative form
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of North Star Promise — Minnesota Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of North Star Promise — Minnesota Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of North Star Promise — Minnesota Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Minnesota State Grant — Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Minnesota State Grant — Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Minnesota State Grant — Office of Higher Education ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Dudas estudiantiles sobre residencias independientes y North Star Promise ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/minnesota · Accessed October 12, 2026
Conversación pública de agosto de 2026 que refleja confusión sobre la categoría de residencia y aconseja consultar la oficina financiera del campus; no es una determinación estatal.
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Estudiante pregunta por reembolso con North Star Promise ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/uofmn · Accessed October 12, 2026
Intercambio de mayo de 2026 sobre el cálculo de último dólar y el efecto de otras becas; las respuestas se contrastan con FAQ oficial y no se usan como regla.
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Estudiante pregunta por Minnesota State Grant en oferta 2026–27 ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/uofmn · Accessed October 12, 2026
Publicación de julio de 2026 sobre una oferta sin State Grant que el estudiante esperaba; el relato no determina sus créditos, necesidad ni estado del expediente.
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Estudiante no ve Minnesota State Grant en su oferta ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/uofmn · Accessed October 12, 2026
Experiencia pública de julio de 2026 comparando la oferta actual con años anteriores; no demuestra requisitos ni error institucional.
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Estudiantes preguntan cómo afecta North Star Promise a otras ayudas ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/uofmn · Accessed October 12, 2026
Discusión pública de mayo de 2026 sobre ayuda de último dólar, becas externas y posible reembolso; se contrasta con FAQ oficial.