Postsecondary Child Care Grant

• Applying does not guarantee an award.
• Funding is limited, and eligible students may not receive an award if funds are unavailable.
• The grant helps offset existing out-of-pocket child care expenses. It cannot be used to create a new child care expense.
• A child care provider cannot begin charging for care or increase their normal rate because a student may receive the Postsecondary Child Care Grant.
• Your school may request additional documentation to verify eligibility.
• You must continue paying your eligible child care expenses while your application is being reviewed.
• Your school’s financial aid office reviews your application, determines eligibility, and communicates decisions about your application.

To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a Minnesota resident student.
• Must have an eligible child age 12 or younger, or age 14 or younger if the child has a qualifying disability.
• Must be in a financial aid eligible degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, or professional student enrolled in at least one credit per term at a participating Minnesota institution.
• Has not received Postsecondary Child Care Grant funds for 10 semesters or the equivalent.
  • Additional eligibility may be available for certain qualifying withdrawals, including active military service. Check with your financial aid office for details.
• Must not be in default on a student loan.
• Must be in good academic standing and be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Must not receive full-time Child Care Assistance covering 40 or more hours per week.
• Must not have the same child care expenses fully covered by another source, such as a scholarship, stipend, or other child care assistance.
• Must not be receiving Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits during the term.
• Must already be paying and current on out-of-pocket for child care expenses.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award. Eligibility must be verified by your school's financial aid office, and awards are subject to available funding.

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.

Participation in the Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program is optional. Not all colleges and universities located in Minnesota participate. 

Eligible institutions include Minnesota public postsecondary institutions; private, baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities; nonprofit two-year vocational schools granting associate degrees; and eligible institutions offering graduate or professional degrees that participate in the program.

View Participating Institutions

Interested students must:

1. Complete either the FAFSA or Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application, as applicable.
2. Initiate the Postsecondary Child Care Grant application through the MNAid Student Portal.
3. Print the Postsecondary Child Care Grant application.
4. Give the application to your child care provider to complete Section B.
5. Review Sections A and B for accuracy and completeness.
6. Submit the complete application to the financial aid office at your college or university.

Apply Online: Postsecondary Child Care Grant Student Application

Instructions: Creating a MNAid Student Portal Account/Applying for the Postsecondary Child Care Grant

Your school may request documentation needed to verify information on your application, including information about your:

• child care provider;
• child care schedule and expenses;
• payments to your provider;
• household income;
• enrollment; or
• other program eligibility requirements.

You must provide requested documentation before your school can complete its review.

After applying, you must report changes in your child care provider, hours of care, rates of care, number of credits enrolled in, MFIP status, or other child care assistance received to your financial aid office within 10 days of the change. Changes may affect your eligibility or award amount.

Contact your school's financial aid office if you have questions about:

• whether your application has been received;
• the status of your application;
• documents your school requested;
• how your eligibility was determined;
• your award amount;
• when your award will be disbursed;
• a waitlist; or
• why your application was denied.

Your school's contact information is included on your Postsecondary Child Care Grant application and confirmation email.

The maximum award is $6,500 per eligible child for the nine-month academic year. 

Students attending an eligible additional term outside the regular academic year may qualify for an additional award.

Awards cannot exceed eligible child care expenses for more than 40 hours of care per week per eligible child.

Provider rate limits also apply:

• Child care center: up to $10 per hour
• Home child care: up to $5 per hour

The maximum award per term is:

• Semester: $3,250 per eligible child
• Quarter: $2,167 per eligible child

The minimum award per term is:

• Semester: $50
• Quarter: $33

SAI – Credit Level Enrollment Status Conversion Chart

In some circumstances, a school's financial aid office may request approval for an increase of up to 10% for higher infant-care costs. This is optional for schools and not mandatory. Contact your financial aid office if you are charged a higher rate for infant care and believe this adjustment may apply.

Your award is not automatically the maximum grant amount.

The Postsecondary Child Care Grant calculation considers factors including:

• your Student Aid Index (SAI);
• your enrollment level;
• the number of eligible children;
• the number of weeks child care is needed;
• hours of care per week;
• your actual out-of-pocket child care expenses;
• the type of child care provider;
• other child care assistance you receive;
• applicable program maximums and provider rate limits; and
• funding available at your institution.

Because funding is limited and award limits apply, the Postsecondary Child Care Grant may not cover the full cost of your child care.

Students and child care providers must provide complete and accurate information.

Submitting false or misleading information about child care arrangements, expenses, payments, provider eligibility, enrollment, income, or other eligibility information is considered fraud and will result in denial or cancellation of an award, repayment of grant funds, loss of future eligibility, or other appropriate action.

If you make an unintentional mistake on your application, contact your financial aid office promptly so the information can be corrected.