Minnesota State Grant — Office of Higher Education

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 calculate need, while NSP fills the remaining base tuition and mandatory-fee balance at public or Tribal Colleges. State Grant can be relevant at a participating private college, but not at an out-of-state school.

Published eligibility includes a high-school diploma or equivalent—or being at least 17—undergraduate enrollment and at least three credits at an eligible institution. Restrictions include student-loan default or overdue child support, along with an eight-full-time-semester equivalent limit, no prior bachelor’s degree and satisfactory academic progress. Students reapply each year. OHE defines full-time for the full award as at least 15 credits per term; fewer credits prorate the attendance budget, but the student or parent contribution is not reduced by the same proportion, so a part-time student may not qualify for the same award.

The usual route is to file FAFSA and list the Minnesota college; students unable to complete FAFSA can use the Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application. Beginning in 2025–26, State Grant requires filing by the 30th day of the term, not merely before the end of the academic year. Ask the campus how it counts day 30 for terms with different modules. The alternative application is free. The college calculates the award and must include it in the offer; students do not request a check directly from the state, and amounts are not identical across campuses.

The calculation includes tuition and fees subject to legislative caps, plus a standard allowance for housing and food, books, supplies and miscellaneous expenses. An award at one university can therefore differ from another, and income alone does not predict the amount. In July 2026, a University of Minnesota student said the offer lacked aid received in prior years; that is one individual file. Before assuming the benefit disappeared, review credits, application type, submission date, calculated need, institution, progress and verification. Ask the campus for the calculation and specific reason the offer differs.

Do not combine State Grant and North Star Promise as if they were the same line. State Grant can be available at certain private Minnesota colleges while NSP is not; each also coordinates differently with other nonrepayable aid. Student discussions about a missing grant or aid order can help frame questions, but OHE and the campus office confirm the rules and individual file. Compare net price, housing, program fees and transport; keep the FAFSA or alternative-application date and confirm eligibility before every term.