MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application FAQ

No. DACA is a federal immigration policy deferring action against certain undocumented individuals who entered or stayed in the United States without authorization. The Prosperity Act is a state law providing education benefits to students who meet all the requirements in the state law. Having DACA is not a requirement under the Prosperity Act, but DACA and/or a valid work authorization will allow the student to be considered for a State Work Study job on campus.

• Don’t complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
• Apply using the MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application once each school year.

The MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application opens each year on or after October 1st. For example: the 2025-2026 MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application became available on October 1st, 2024. Applying early gives you ample time to supply required documentation and allows time for staff to process the materials. 

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the deadline is the 30th day of the term. Deadlines for other state financial aid programs administered on campus are determined by the college the student is attending.

• Apply for admission to the public college or university they want to attend.
• Minnesota State campuses will determine student eligibility for resident tuition rates.
• U of M campuses will rely on the results of the student’s MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application.

After you submit the MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application, you will receive an email letting you know the following information will need to be submitted to the MN Office of Higher Education to prove you meets the requirements in the law.

• Minnesota high school transcripts showing attendance at a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years and a graduation date (do NOT have to be certified or official copies)
• Males 18-25 must provide proof of registration with the Selective Service System.
• Copy of your DACA letter or work authorization card. This documentation can be used to establish eligibility for State Work Study and/or documentation that you meet the requirements in the law.

• Copies of federal income tax returns (1040) from two years ago (for example: 2024 tax year for 2026-2027 application; 2025 tax year for 2027-2028)
  • If the student is applying as dependent, both student and parent forms are needed.
  • If the student is applying as independent, only student (and spouse’s, if married) forms are needed
     
• If the student and/or parents were not required to file a federal tax return due to income earned below the required filing threshold, then copies of the student’s and/or parents’ W-2 forms from two years ago

• If the student and/or parents earned no income, a signed statement of non-filing is required.

   

If you do not have a Social Security number, download the registration form here and submit it to the MN Office of Higher Education. The paper Selective Service System Registration Form must be completed in black ink and in capital letters only. The document cannot be emailed or faxed to the MN Office of Higher Education; the original form must be mailed to:

MN Office of Higher Education
State Grant Unit
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108.

The MN Office of Higher Education will make a copy of the form and mail the original to the Selective Service System on your behalf.

If you have a Social Security number, you can register Online at www.sss.gov. Confirmation of registration will be sent to you within two weeks. Once you receive confirmation, please upload it into Document Management, within the MNAid Student Portal. 

If you have previously registered for Selective Service, you can download a copy of your registration card at Verify Registration : Selective Service System and upload it into the Student Portal right away. 

The MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application determines student dependency status using the same criteria as the FAFSA. You can review the criteria at Dependency Status | Federal Student Aid. 

Students who are considered dependent for financial aid purposes are required to provide parent information on their application, regardless of whether their parents reside outside of the U.S.

Please contact our office at (651) 642-0567, option 2, if you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from providing parent information. 

The fastest and most secure method to submit documentation is via Document Management, within the MNAid Student Portal. If you experience file size restrictions when submitting documents, please contact our office at (651) 642-0567, option 2, for assistance.  

Please note: Selective Service Registration form must be mailed to our office and cannot be uploaded into Document Management.

During peak processing times, it may take up to three weeks for staff to review submitted documentation. If it has been more than three weeks since you submitted documents, please contact our office at (651) 642-0567, option 2. 

• MN State Grant, which is a need-based grant available to students attending college in Minnesota.
• For students with a family adjusted gross income less than $80,000, who are also attending a MN public higher education institution or Tribal College, you may be eligible for the North Star Promise program.
• Postsecondary Childcare Grant for low-income students with children in childcare.
• State Work Study program (if you have work authorization).
• Contact the financial aid office at your college if you are interested in either of these programs listed above.
• Grants and/or scholarships from the college you attend. Contact the financial aid office at your college to inquire about these opportunities.
• You can also see a partial list of scholarships available at Minnesota colleges as well as private scholarships that are available regardless of immigration status on our web page at: https://ohe.mn.gov/mn-dream-act

No. Financial aid programs have other requirements all applicants must meet, such as demonstrating financial need. It simply means you are eligible to apply for and receive state financial aid on the same basis as U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.

No. The Prosperity Act is a state law that provides state benefits to students regardless of federal immigration status. Federal financial aid programs require students to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens to apply for and receive federal financial aid.

We begin sending estimated State Grant award letters via email in late February or March. Final award letters are emailed after the legislative session, typically beginning in late June or July. Funds arrive on campus each term after the end of the drop/add period.

All other state financial aid is awarded by the college financial aid office on a schedule determined by each college.

• Your college will certify your enrolled credits and that you are making satisfactory academic progress at the beginning of each term.
• We will send your State Grant funds to your college if you are enrolled and eligible. This typically happens after the end of the free add/drop period each term.
• Your college will apply the State Grant funds to your student account.
• State Grant funds may not cover your full student bill due. Make arrangements with your college to pay any remaining tuition and fee charges to avoid late fees or being dropped from classes.

Students can request their application be transferred to a different school directly within the Student Portal.