Minnesota Student Teacher Grants (Shortage Areas and Underrepresented Student Teachers)
Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE)
One-time grant up to $7,500 for low-income student teachers who will teach in a shortage area or rural district, or who are teachers of color.
- How much
- Up to $7,500 (one-time, for the student teaching term)
- Who qualifies
- Enrolled in a Minnesota PELSB-approved teacher prep program with at least 12 weeks of student teaching for Tier 3 licensure; financial need; satisfactory academic progress; not in default; no prior STG award; intends to teach in a Minnesota rural district or license shortage area, OR belongs to a racial/ethnic group underrepresented in Minnesota's teacher workforce.
- For undergrads, grad students
- For education, teaching students
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Check dates Priority deadline and cutoff date set by OHE for each student teaching term (posted on the STG web page); recipients notified by Aug 15 (fall), Dec 1 (spring) and May 1 (summer).
- How to apply
- Apply in the MNAid Student Portal for your student teaching term and file the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act application
- Your college's financial aid office submits your financial data
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 22, 2026, against the official page (ohe.mn.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
Two grants under one application, paid for the term the student completes a 12-week-or-longer student teaching placement in a Minnesota PELSB-approved teacher preparation program: (1) Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant — for students who intend to teach in a license shortage area (ESL, early childhood, special education, career and technical education, STEAM, world languages) or a rural school district; (2) Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant — for students from racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in Minnesota's teacher workforce. Award is up to $7,500 (minimum $50) and cannot exceed unmet need for the student teaching term; one award per student. If funds are short, OHE prioritizes by financial need, then by rural+shortage intent (STSA) or statewide distribution (USTG).
More money from Minnesota
- Minnesota State GrantVaries 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
- 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.