by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education's North Star Promise program is a valuable opportunity about which libraries should inform their patrons. The program will eliminate tuition and fees for eligible Minnesota residents beginning in Fall 2024. The application process, via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application, is now open.
Text courtesy of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. North Star Promise Program one-page fact sheets (PDFs) are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.
Beginning in fall 2024, the North Star Promise (NSP) Scholarship program will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for eligible Minnesota residents at eligible institutions as a "last-dollar" program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied.
By making college accessible and affordable, NSP is intended to have a positive impact on multiple fronts:
- Help stabilize enrollment at Minnesota public institutions of higher education;
- Serve as an economic driver for Minnesota by educating qualified workers who are much needed to fill vacancies in the state's labor force;
- Create a viable higher education path for Minnesota residents who may have previously thought education was not a possibility for them.
We estimate this program will impact 15,000-20,000 students in the first academic year.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible students must:
- Be a Minnesota resident
- Have a family Adjusted Gross Income* (AGI) as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application below $80,000.
- Attend a Minnesota public higher education institution or Tribal College
- Not be in default on a state or federal student loan
- Be enrolled taking at least one credit
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
- Have not already earned a baccalaureate degree
- Be enrolled in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or certificate
Eligible Institutions
All Minnesota public higher education institutions and Tribal Colleges will be eligible.
- All Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
- All University of Minnesota campuses
- All Tribal Colleges
An institution may offer programs that are not eligible for Federal Title IV Aid and Minnesota financial aid.
Typically, this is because the program length is too short to meet requirements for federal and state financial aid.
Application Process
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application. There is no additional application beyond the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act Application. The eligible college or university you are attending will assess your eligibility on a term-by-term basis and award North Star Promise Scholarships to all eligible students.
