Postsecondary Child Care Grant

To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a Minnesota resident student
• Must have a child 12 years old or younger (or a child 14 years old or younger if the child has a disability)
• Must be either an Undergraduate or Graduate student enrolled in at least 1 credit per term at a participating Minnesota School
• Has not received child care grant funds for a period of 10 semesters or the equivalent
  • Students who have withdrawn for active military service after December 31, 2002 are given an extra term of eligibility
• Must not be in default on a student loan
• Must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress
• Must not be receiving full-time Child Care Assistance (40 hours or more per week)
• Must not have child care costs covered by another source (scholarship, stipend, etc.)
• Must not be a recipient of the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Must already be paying out-of-pocket for child care expenses at the time of application

Note: Schools can request additional documentation when processing child care grant applications. Students must submit any documentation requested. Students must also report any changes in child care arrangements (provider, hours, or rates) to the financial aid office within 10 days to keep awards accurate and avoid cancellation or denial once their application is submitted. 

Eligible institutions are all public postsecondary schools and private, baccalaureate degree granting colleges and universities located in Minnesota, or nonprofit, two-year vocational schools granting associate degrees that have opted into participating in the Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program.

Note: Participation is optional, and not all colleges and universities have opted into the program. Please see the list of eligible institutions here. 

Interested students should complete the Postsecondary Child Care Grant application below. Students also must complete either the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act application.

Apply Online Now: Postsecondary Child Care Grant Student Application

Instruction Guide: Creating a MNAid Student Portal Account/Applying for Postsecondary Child Care Grant

To complete your application and be considered for funding, please follow these important next steps after completing the online application:

• Print your application and provide it to your child care provider to complete Section B.
• Review both Section A and Section B for accuracy and completeness.
• Submit the full application to the financial aid office at your college or university.
• A financial aid administrator at your school will determine your eligibility and award amount and will notify you of the outcome. If you have any questions regarding your application, your schools contact information is found in Section B of the application and also in the confirmation email.

Note: Child Care Grant awards may be processed after other types of financial aid. Please plan accordingly.

The maximum award amount is $6,500 per eligible child per 9-month academic year. The amount of the award cannot exceed 40 hours of child care per week per eligible child. Students are eligible to receive an extra term of eligibility for summer term attendance.

In some instances, the maximum award may be increased by 10 percent to compensate for higher market costs for infant care up to the point the child reaches 18 months of age. Applicants who are charged a higher rate for infant care should inquire with their school to see if they offer this adjustment, and if so, to obtain the form necessary to request the adjustment.

SAI – Credit Level Enrollment Status Conversion Chart

Maximum Award per Term per Child: $3,250/semester or $2,167/quarter

Minimum Award per Term per Child: $50/Semester or $33/Quarter
*See SAI – Credit Level Enrollment Status Conversion Chart above

Awards may cover eligible child care costs up to 40 hours per week, not exceeding provider rate caps ($10/hour center; $5/hour home care), and are reduced by other child care assistance. 

The Child Care Grant calculator estimates your award based on the number of weeks your child is in care during the academic year, the number of hours per week, your actual out-of-pocket child care costs, your Student Aid Index (SAI), your term enrollment level, other child care assistance received, type of child care (center vs home), and the availability of funding. Because funding is limited and awards are capped, your grant may not cover the full cost of care.

When you apply for the Postsecondary Child Care Grant, you must provide complete and accurate information. Submitting false or misleading details about your child care expenses or eligibility is considered fraud. Fraud may result in denial or repayment of your grant and could affect your future financial aid eligibility.