Minnesota State Grant

The Minnesota State Grant is a need-based grant that does not require repayment. The program helps students from low- and moderate-income families pay for educational expenses at eligible Minnesota colleges and universities.¹

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) administers the program with funds appropriated by the State Legislature. In fiscal year 2024, the program awarded approximately $243 million to 71,500 Minnesota residents. Approximately 50 percent of recipients had a family adjusted gross income below $40,000.¹

Who is eligible for the Minnesota State Grant?

A student must be a Minnesota resident and meet all of the following requirements:¹

Be a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or be at least 17 years of age.
Be enrolled as an undergraduate for at least three credits at one of more than 130 eligible schools in Minnesota.
Not have received a bachelor’s degree.
Demonstrate financial need as defined in state law.
Make satisfactory academic progress.

A student is not eligible when any of the following applies:¹²

The student is in default on a student loan.
The student is more than 30 days behind on child support owed to a public agency, unless the student has an established payment plan with the agency and has made a series of on-time monthly payments.
The student owes OHE for a State Grant overpayment.
The student receives tuition reciprocity benefits from another state while attending a Minnesota institution.

How much is the Minnesota State Grant?

The minimum award is $100 per year. For the 2023-24 academic year, the average award ranged from about $1,415 at a public two-year college to $6,439 at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or a private four-year college. The overall average award was approximately $3,406.¹

How is the Minnesota State Grant award calculated?

The award is based on the difference between the amount a student and the student’s family are expected to contribute and the price of attendance at the institution. All applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the price of attendance from savings, earnings, loans or other assistance from the school or private sources.¹

The price of attendance consists of two parts:¹

Tuition and fees charged to the student, subject to a tuition maximum set by the Legislature.
A standard allowance established by the Legislature for room and board, books and supplies, and miscellaneous expenses.

The price of attendance is prorated based on enrollment status. For a dependent student, the remaining share is met by the parent contribution determined by the federal need analysis and by the combination of the Federal Pell Grant and the State Grant. For an independent student, the remaining share is met by the student’s income and assets and by the combination of Pell and State Grant awards. The program divides the responsibility for paying for higher education among the student, parents and government, which OHE calls Shared Responsibility.¹

Each institution calculates the award and includes the State Grant in the student’s financial aid offer.¹

How long may a student receive the Minnesota State Grant?

A student must reapply each year. A State Grant may be received for four consecutive full-time quarters or three consecutive semesters during a single fiscal year.¹

OHE’s 2024-25 manual limits total eligibility to the equivalent of 180 semester credits, which equals twelve full-time semesters or six full-time years. The limit is measured in State Grant units paid, not in credits attempted.² The OHE web page describes a limit of eight full-time semesters or twelve quarters. Students may confirm the current limit with OHE.¹

How to apply for the Minnesota State Grant?

There is no charge for applying. A student applies by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines the Student Aid Index (SAI) used for the award. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, a student must apply by the 30th day of the term.¹

A student who is not eligible to complete the FAFSA may apply by completing the MN Alternative State Financial Aid Application .¹

Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE)
Email: financialaid.ohe@state.mn.us
(800) 657-3866

Sources & notes

Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant . ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³
Minnesota Office of Higher Education, State Financial Aid Manual: Minnesota State Grant, 2024-2025 . ↩ ↩²