Additional Grants and Scholarships From Other Sources
These federally funded grants help almost 10 million full- and part-time college and vocational school students nationally.
Who is Eligible?
Students with family incomes up to $65,000 may be eligible for Pell Grants. However, most Pell awards go to students with family incomes below $30,000. There is no charge to apply for a Federal Pell Grant.
You also must meet certain conditions to receive federal aid.
Students can receive Pell Grants for their undergraduate study until they complete a baccalaureate or their first professional degree (such as pharmacy or dentistry) or have received a Pell Grant for the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters, whichever comes first.
How Much Money Can You Get?
In 2020-2021, the grants range from $639 to $6,345. The average grant in 2019-2020 for all Pell recipients nationally was approximately $4,120. The average grant in 2019-2020 for students at Minnesota schools was approximately $3,640.
How is the Award Determined?
Pell Grants are based on a formula that is applied in the same manner to all applicants. The formula is revised and approved each year by the U.S. Congress. The actual award a student receives depends on a number of factors including:
- The price of attendance.
- The family's financial situation.
- Family size.
- Whether the student is attending full-time or part-time.
Where Can You Use the Pell Grant?
The grants may be used at almost any school the student chooses to attend. Financial aid administrators at each school can tell you whether the institution and its programs are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant Program.
What Is the Application Process?
Apply for a Federal Pell Grant by completing the FAFSA on the Web.
The paper FAFSA can also be downloaded at studentaid.gov.
Once the FAFSA has been completed and filed, the progress of the application can be tracked by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll-free at (800) 433-3243 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), Monday through Friday. You also can check the status of your FAFSA online.
Two Year College Opportunity Grant Program
Overview
The Alliss Two-Year Opportunity Grant is available to students with financial need who are attending Minnesota State Colleges, and who are enrolled in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diplomas, certificates and MnTC courses designed to transfer to baccalaureate programs
Program eligibility
- Grants are available to students with financial need who are attending Minnesota State Colleges, enrolled in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diplomas, certificates and MnTC courses designed to transfer to baccalaureate programs
- Recipients cannot have already received a baccalaureate degree
- Recipients do not have to be Minnesota residents
- Awards may be made for an amount between $350 -$1100 per year, which may be renewable (but not automatically) until the student has been enrolled for 150% of the length of their program, measured in credits
- Grants will be processed and awarded through the College's normal financial aid application process, and may be used to meet remaining need after the student has received Pell and/or MN State Grants
- Recipients will be required to meet with an advisor to create a baccalaureate degree-completion plan - this meeting must occur during the semester for which the award is granted
Eligibility Criterion as of July 1, 2014
Award procedure
The procedure for selecting recipients of the Alliss Opportunity Grant varies from campus to campus. Please contact the financial aid office at the college you attend (or plan to attend) for more information.
University Grant Program
Overview
The Alliss University Grant is available to full-time undergraduate students with financial need who are attending Minnesota State Universities. The selection of students and the manner in which grants are distributed are within the discretion of MnSCU. Grants shall be awarded in scholarships in amounts between $350 and $1,100.
Program eligibility
- Grants are available to students with financial need who are attending Minnesota State Universities
- Students must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate-level program of study
- Scholarships are not confined to students with the highest scholastic rank; the upper 40% of any class are eligible and lower ranks are entitled to consideration
Award procedure
The procedure for selecting recipients of the Alliss University Grant varies from campus to campus. Please contact the financial aid office at the university you attend (or plan to attend) for more information.
The American Indian Scholars Program was established in the 2023 Legislative Session. This program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for Minnesotans eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of any federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution or the University of Minnesota. Students not eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of a Minnesota Tribal Nation are also eligible for the program.
How much money can you get?
This program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for eligible students.
Who is eligible?
In general, students must:
- Be either a:
- Minnesota resident who qualifies for resident tuition and an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation; or
- Student who does not qualify for resident tuition but is an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at a Minnesota State institution or a campus of the University of Minnesota;
- Not have already obtained a bachelor’s degree;
- Not have been enrolled 12 full time semesters or the equivalent at the college-level; and
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
I’m eligible, what now?
Student eligibility is determined by the college. The Office of Higher Education is working with Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota on implementation of this program. We will update this page as often as possible as more information becomes available.
If you are a student at the University of Minnesota, information about the program is available on the campus websites below:
If you are a student at a Minnesota State campus, information about the program is available on the websites below for some of the campuses:
- Bemidji State University
- Century College
- Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
- Lake Superior College
- Metropolitan State University
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Minnesota State College Southeast
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- Minnesota State University Mankato
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Normandale Community College
- Northwest Technical College
- Ridgewater College
- Riverland Community College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- Saint Paul College
- South Central College
- Southwest Minnesota State University
- St. Cloud State University
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- Winona State University
If you are a student at a Minnesota State campus not listed above, contact the financial aid office and visit the system website for more information.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) can provide additional grant money to a student's financial aid package if he or she has demonstrated financial need.
Who is Eligible?
Undergraduates or vocational students who are enrolled at least half time are eligible. Priority is given to students already receiving a Pell Grant.
What Is the Application Process?
The student should contact the financial aid office at the college or vocational school he or she is attending. Deadlines will vary by school so the student should apply as early as possible.
Dislocated Worker Programs serve individuals dislocated from long-held jobs. The goal is to help workers obtain new employment quickly. These programs focus on upgrading current job skills, retraining workers whose skills are not marketable, and providing support services.
For More Information
Individuals may inquire about Dislocated Worker Programs at CareerForce locations or call 651-259-7537.
Education vouchers are federal funds made available to states through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act. Education vouchers are intended to help current and former foster care youth pay for postsecondary education.
Who is Eligible?
Youth must be under age 26 by the application due date and accepted into an accredited postsecondary education institution or training. Youth must also meet ONE of the following criteria:
- You were in foster care for 30 consecutive days between your 17th and 18th birthday.
- You were adopted from foster care after your 16th birthday.
- You were in foster care on or after your 16th birthday when a relative accepted a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody through a juvenile court order.
- You are/were under state or tribal guardianship on your 18th birthday.
Youth previously awarded an ETV must meet all of the following criteria:
- Must be under age 26 and have not received ETV for more than 5 years, and
- Continuing to be enrolled in school, and
- Making progress towards completing your school program.
For More Information
Minnesota ETV Program Coordinator
Tel: (651) 431-6059
E-mail: DHS.ETVcoordinator@state.mn.us.
The Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship helps students who have demonstrated outstanding ability, achievement, and potential in one of several subjects: English or creative writing, fine arts, foreign language, math, science, or social science.
Funding for this program comes from the sale of special collegiate license plates. The availability and amount of scholarships depend on that funding.
Who Is Eligible?
High school graduates must be admitted to enroll full-time in a nonsectarian, baccalaureate degree-granting program at:
- The University of Minnesota.
- A Minnesota state university.
- A Minnesota private, baccalaureate degree-granting college or university.
For More Information
If the institutions you are considering participate, contact them directly to apply. Students must enroll during the year of their high school graduation, but the scholarship can be renewed annually for up to three academic years if certain academic standards are met.
Qualified war orphans may receive up to $750 a year from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to be used for tuition, books, supplies, board and room.
Who is Eligible?
you must have lost your veteran parent through death because of a service caused condition and have been a resident of Minnesota for two years prior to your application for educational benefits.
Children of deceased veterans also may qualify for free tuition at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, until they earn a bachelor's degree. This does not apply to private institutions.
For more information
Students should contact the financial aid office at the school they attend or plan to attend, their county Veterans Service Officer at the County Courthouse, or:
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Service Building, 2nd Floor
20 West 12th Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
Tel: (651) 206-2562
Web: www.mdva.state.mn.us
Who is Eligible
Dependents of persons considered to be prisoners of war or persons missing in action -- as defined by the Department of Defense -- after August 1, 1958, at most Minnesota colleges and universities. See administrative rules governing the program.
Students can receive tuition and fee assistance up to a maximum of $250 per year at Minnesota private colleges.
For More Information
Students should apply to the financial aid office at the school they attend or plan to attend or contact:
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Service Building, 2nd Floor
20 West 12th Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
Tel: (651) 296-1033
Web: www.mdva.state.mn.us
Beginning fall 2008, the federal government offers the TEACH Grant program, which provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must agree to serve as a fulltime teacher in a public or private school serving low income students for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH Grant.