Postsecondary Child Care Grant FAQs

Only certain schools are eligible to participate in the Postsecondary Child Care Grant program. Eligible institutions include:

• All public postsecondary schools in Minnesota
• Private, baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities located in Minnesota that choose to participate in the program
• Nonprofit, two-year vocational schools in Minnesota that grant associate degrees and choose to participate in the program

If your school is not listed, it is not eligible to participate in the program. You can view the full list of eligible institutions here: Eligible institutions.

You should contact your school’s financial aid office directly to check on the status of your Child Care Grant application. Their contact information is listed on the printed application you submitted.

For technical issues with the MNAid Student Portal (such as logging in or account errors), you can call 651-642-0567 (option 2) or email financialaid.ohe@state.mn.us 

If you transfer to a different school after submitting your Child Care Grant application, email financialaid.ohe@state.mn.us. Our team will update your application so it can be routed to your new school.

Funds are typically disbursed 3–5 weeks after the start of the term, no earlier than when other financial aid is released. Payments usually go directly to the student, who is responsible for paying their childcare provider. Funds can also be paid directly to the childcare provider.

Note: funds can’t be disbursed until the school has had time to process the application. Please check with your school for processing time. 

Yes. You must submit a new application using your student portal and have an up-to-date FAFSA each award year (July 1 – June 30).

You must notify your school’s financial aid office within 10 days of any changes, such as provider, costs, childcare hours, enrollment changes, or receipt of MFIP/Basic Sliding Fee assistance. Failure to do so can result in your childcare grant being canceled for the entire academic year. 

• If you drop credits, your award may be reduced.
• If you withdraw from all classes, your school’s refund and repayment policy will apply.
• If you take a term off, you may need to reapply and could be placed on a waiting list if funds are limited.

Schools are required to make sure Child Care Grant funds are used only for actual, eligible childcare expenses. To do this, they may ask you to provide proof of payment (such as receipts, canceled checks, or bank statements) showing that you paid your provider. This protects both you and the program by ensuring:

• Your award is based on real childcare costs.
• The state funds are being used correctly and fairly.
• You remain eligible to keep receiving the grant.

If you cannot show proof that you are paying for childcare, your award may be denied.

Yes. Students can appeal first through their school’s appeal process. If not resolved, the school may forward the appeal to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) for final review.

The Child Care Grant is designed to help offset existing childcare expenses while you are enrolled in school. Because grant funding is limited and not guaranteed from year to year, students must already be paying their childcare provider and demonstrate they have sufficient income to cover the costs. This ensures that funds are used to support active, ongoing childcare arrangements and that awards go to students who would otherwise face financial barriers in continuing their education.

Providing false or misleading information on your Child Care Grant application is considered fraud. If it is discovered that you are not paying for child care, or that your provider is ineligible (such as a family member at the same address, or someone misrepresented as a provider), the following can happen:

• Immediate loss of eligibility for the Child Care Grant.
• Repayment of all grant funds you received while ineligible.
• Institutional or state disciplinary action, which may include suspension of financial aid.
• In cases of intentional fraud, referral to state authorities for investigation.

The program is funded with limited state dollars to help students who are genuinely paying for childcare so they can attend college. Misuse of funds takes resources away from other students and could result in serious consequences.

 

No. Only the student who is the parent or legal guardian of the child can apply for the Postsecondary Child Care Grant (CCG). The program is designed to help students cover child care costs for their own dependent children while they are enrolled in school.

If you are a legal guardian, you must provide proper custody or guardianship documentation to your school’s financial aid office.

No. Only the student who is the parent or legal guardian of the child can apply for the Postsecondary Child Care Grant (CCG). The program is designed to help students cover childcare costs for their own dependent children while they are enrolled in school.

If you are a legal guardian, you must provide proper custody or guardianship documentation to your school’s financial aid office.