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About Us

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The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) is a cabinet-level state agency that connects students and families with financial aid programs, information, and resources to help them gain access to postsecondary education.

The agency collaborates with public, private, and tribal colleges and universities to enhance the distribution and effectiveness of need-based aid and competitive grant programs and provides the public with access to cutting-edge agency research products to support innovation and success.

The Minnesota State Grant Program is the largest financial aid program administered by OHE, awarding more than $210 million in need-based grants to Minnesota residents attending eligible colleges, universities and career schools in Minnesota. The agency oversees other state scholarship programs, tuition reciprocity programs, a student loan program, Minnesota's 529 College Savings Plan, licensing, and an early college awareness program and initiatives for youth.

Inter-agency work with the Minnesota Department of Education helps E-12 students successfully transition to postsecondary education. Collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industry supports state businesses and industry by aligning efforts to build and retain a well-trained and educated workforce and create opportunities for job seekers.

Missions and Vision

Mission

To support the pursuit and completion of a higher education credential by every Minnesotan, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status, in order to enhance our democracy, the State's economic vitality, and individual quality of life.

Vision

Minnesota is the best state in the country for children to grow up in – those of all races, ethnicities, religions, economic statuses, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, and zip codes.

The Four A's that Guide Our Work

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is dedicated toward helping every Minnesotan who seeks a postsecondary education meet their goal through a variety of tools, services, and initiatives centered around four broad themes:

Affordability

Robust state financial aid programs that support Minnesotans with the most financial need. Students can graduate without student loan debt levels that limit their financial futures.

Need-Based Financial Aid
- Helps lower- and middle-income students and families pay for educational expenses at eligible Minnesota colleges or universities
  - Minnesota State Grant
  - Postsecondary Child Care Grant
  - Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program
  - Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant
  - Minnesota Work Study
  - Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students
SELF Loan Program
- Long-term, low-interest student loans to help families cover the cost of college
Minnesota College Savings Plan - MN Saves
- Helps families save for college through a 529 plan that offers tax-saving benefits

Attainment

Students are given the supports and services they need to finish what they start.

Minnesota’s Attainment Goal: Increase the percentage of Minnesotans ages 25 to 44 who have attained a postsecondary certificate or degree to 70% by 2025
Minnesota’s FAFSA Goal: Increase FAFSA filing by 5 percentage points every year for 5 years, with a focus on closing gaps in FAFSA filing for Black, Indigenous, and other students of color. Therefore, for the class of 2022, our state’s goal is to see FAFSA filing increase to 53%, while closing gaps in FAFSA filing by race/ethnicity.

Accessibility

A diverse array of higher education and postsecondary training programs exist so that all Minnesotans have choices for their future. Minnesotans have the information they need to understand the value of higher education and how to find the right option for themselves and their families.

Student and Parent Outreach
- Minnesota Goes to College
- FAFSA Completion Initiatives
- Direct Admissions
- Other early college awareness programs and initiatives
Postsecondary Participation Programs
- Targeted programs that help students prepare for college and transition successfully into higher education
  - Get Ready –a federal Gear Up grant
  - Intervention for College Attendance Grant Program
  - Summer Academic Enrichment Program
Adult and Worker Engagement
- Programs targeted at removing barriers and facilitating entry into and completion of postsecondary education in specifically targeted industries
  - Dual Training Grant/PIPELINE Program
  - Minnesota Next Generation Certified Nursing Assistant Initiative
  - Minnesota Student Teacher Grants
  - Student Loan Repayment Programs for specific occupations critical for the state’s economy
- Programs to support incarcerated individuals
- Parenting Student Support Programs
Research
- Produces information and analysis on Minnesota postsecondary education, student success, and effectiveness of state- and federally-funded programs
- Bridges existing cross-agency data to gauge the effectiveness of current programs and design targeted improvement strategies to help students through Minnesota’s Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS)

Accountability

Students are given the supports and services they need to finish what they start. Higher education institutions provide high-quality options and are committed to student success. Data is collected and transparently shared to ensure that all higher education stakeholders are clear on the successes and challenges of higher education in Minnesota.

Licensing and Registration
- Currently developing a quality credentials framework, in partnership with OHE Research, for identifying Minnesota credentials, programs, and providers that offer evidence of value to individuals and support smart investments by the state
- Provides consumer protections for students and families
  - Registers degree-granting private institutions
  - Licenses occupational programs
  - Helps resolve student complaints
Research related to student safety, including annual Sexual Assault Data and Study Abroad Health and Safety report

OHE Strategic Plan and Affirmative Action Plan

Statewide Attainment Goals

The work at OHE is centered around advancing two statewide goals:

Educational Attainment Goal 2025: In 2015, the Minnesota Legislature passed statute 135A.012 Higher Education Goal, which enacted a goal that 70% of Minnesota adults (ages 25-44) will have attained a postsecondary certificate or degree by 2025. In recognition of existing gaps in attainment, the law also sets 30% and 50% educational attainment benchmarks for all races and ethnicities as interim goals.
Statewide FAFSA Filing Goal: Completing a FAFSA is a primary indicator that a person will enroll in and attend a postsecondary program. In 2020, the Minnesota Legislature directed OHE to set an annual goal for FAFSA filing among high school seniors. As a result of that directive, OHE has set a goal of increasing FAFSA filing by 5 percentage points every year for 5 years, with a focus on closing gaps in FAFSA filing for Black, Indigenous, and other students of color.

Statutes, Rules & Policies

As an executive branch agency, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education's programs are created and funded by the Governor and the Minnesota Legislature.

Statutes

The Office of Higher Education statutory authority is derived from Minnesota Statutes Chapter 136A.

Rules

Administrative rules are general statements adopted by the Office of Higher Education to make the programs it administers more specific. Administrative rules have the force and effect of law. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education's adopted rules can be viewed here.

Rulemaking Docket

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education engages in rulemaking when given legislative authority to do so. At times there may be multiple rulemaking projects occurring simultaneously or no rulemaking proceedings. The agency maintains an updated public rulemaking docket containing a list of each proposed rule currently under active consideration and each pending rulemaking proceeding.

Agency Budget

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) operates with a total Fiscal Year 2021 budget of $353 million. Of this:

76 percent comes from state appropriations;
18 percent comes from SELF Loan funds; and
6 percent comes from federal, special revenue and miscellaneous funds.

Of the $269 million state general fund expenditures (76% of the budget), 96.8 percent flows through the OHE and directly into grants to students and institutions.

Audits of Agency Financial Statements

Audits of Federal Aid Awards

Access to Government Data

As a member of the public, you have the right to access government data.

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives all members of the public the right to see and have copies of all public data that government entities keep. The law also controls how government entities keep government data and how they respond to requests for data.

The law says that all the data that government entities keep are public and can be seen by anybody unless there is a state or federal law that classifies the data as not public.
You have the right to see or inspect all public data that government entities keep. The entities cannot charge you a fee for looking at the data.
You have the right to have public data explained to you in a way you understand.
You have the right to get copies of public data. Government entities have the right to charge you a reasonable fee for providing these copies.
If the information you want to see is not public data, the entity must tell you this, and must tell you what part of the law says you cannot see the data.
If you ask to see or get copies of government data, the entity must respond to your request promptly and in an appropriate way.
See the link below for the policy and request form.

If you have questions about access to public data, please contact the appropriate data practices designee at datarequest.ohe@state.mn.us.

Your Rights as the Subject of Government Data

Several state laws protect our privacy rights with regard to the information we collect, use and disseminate about you. These rights are described below. The information that we collect about you may be classified as one or more of the following:

You have the right to be informed, upon request, whether you are a subject of government data and the classification of that data.
You have the right to be shown any public and private information we have on you at no charge.
You have the right to copies of any public or private information we have on you but you may be charged a reasonable fee.
We will provide copies of the requested data about you immediately, if possible, or within ten working days.
You have the right to contest the accuracy and completeness of any public or private data we have on you.
You have the right to appeal any decision we make about your challenge to the accuracy and completeness.
If you are under the age of 18, you have the right to ask us to withhold information about you from your parents or guardians.
You have the right to consent or revoke consent to the release of information we have on you.
You have the right to release all, part, or none of the private data we have on you.
See the link below for the policy and request form.
- Data Request Policy when the Data is About You (Data Subject Policy)

To exercise any of these rights contact the appropriate data practices designee at datarequest.ohe@state.mn.us.

About Us

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) is a cabinet-level state agency that connects students and families with financial aid programs, information, and resources to help them gain access to postsecondary education.

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