Minnesota State Grant
Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE)
Minnesota's main need-based grant for undergraduates at eligible Minnesota public, private and tribal colleges, calculated from cost, family share and Pell.
- How much
- Varies by need and cost; formula uses up to $18,071 (4-year) or $7,340 (2-year) tuition and fees plus a $12,690 living allowance (2026-27), minus family share and Pell
- Who qualifies
- Minnesota resident student (as defined in Minn. Stat. 136A.101 subd. 8), including undocumented students who qualify under the Minnesota Dream Act; undergraduate without a bachelor's degree; HS graduate/GED or 17+; enrolled at least 1 credit at an eligible Minnesota institution in a degree, diploma or certificate program; satisfactory academic progress; not in loan default; not more than 30 days behind on child support; not receiving reciprocity benefits from another state; max 8 full-time semesters of State Grant.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, or undocumented student eligible under the Minnesota Dream Act
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Open now FAFSA/MN Dream Act original application must be received by the 30th calendar day of each term (e.g. ~Sept 30 for a fall semester starting Sept 1).
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA (or the Minnesota Dream Act application if undocumented) and list your Minnesota college
- Your original application must be received no later than the 30th calendar day of each term you want the grant for
- Your college's financial aid office calculates and awards it
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (ohe.mn.gov), page 2, page 3, page 4 and page 5
The details
Need-based grant for Minnesota resident undergraduates enrolled at least 1 credit per term at an eligible Minnesota college, university or career school. The award is a formula, not a fixed amount: tuition and mandatory fees (capped in law) plus a living and miscellaneous expense allowance (LME), minus an assigned student share, minus an assigned family share from the FAFSA/Dream Act data, minus the student's Pell Grant. Final 2026-27 parameters (OHE memo, June 1, 2026): LME $12,690; tuition and fee maximums $18,071 (four-year programs) and $7,340 (two-year programs); assigned student responsibility 54.5% (up from 50% in 2025-26) and higher family-share percentages, because OHE is rationing awards for a projected ~$130 million program shortfall that the 2026 Legislature did not fix. Minimum award $100/year ($50/semester, $33/quarter) under the 2025-26 manual. Students can receive it for up to 8 full-time semesters (or the equivalent) and lose eligibility once they have a bachelor's degree. Extra semester for students who withdraw for military service, a serious health condition, or to care for a seriously ill family member.
More money from Minnesota
- Minnesota Student Teacher Grants (Shortage Areas and Underrepresented Student Teachers)Up to $7,500 (one-time, for the student teaching term)
- North Star PromiseUp to 100% of remaining tuition and mandatory fees (last-dollar, no fixed cap)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.