Grants and waivers are gift aid that does not need to be repaid. Financial aid is based on your financial need (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), any eligibility criteria specific to the source, and availability of funds.
When you complete the FAFSA and are admitted to the University of Minnesota, you will automatically be considered for the following federal, state, and University grants.
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Minnesota State Grant
- Promise Programs
- U Promise Scholarship Program
- Promise Plus Free Tuition Program
- Native American Promise Tuition Program (NAPTP)
If you meet the criteria for NAPTP, please fill out the tribal affiliation form and submit your tribal citizenship documentation.
The total amount of financial aid offered to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota for that aid year. Financial aid offers (e.g., loans, work study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of attendance. Additional information is available.
Upcoming state programs
As announced by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the University of Minnesota is excited about implementing the upcoming state programs:
- American Indian Scholars Program starting in 2023-2024
- A formal application process to submit required documentation will be available during the fall 2023 semester. We will provide a link to the application on this page and the forms page once it’s available.
- This program is designed to cover tuition and certain fees for eligible students.
- To be considered eligible, a student must:
- Be pursuing their first degree and enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
- Have fewer than 180 credits at the college-level.
- Be 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.
- If you do not qualify for resident tuition, you are still eligible for this program if you are an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation.
- North Star Promise Program starting in 2024-2025
We will share additional information about these programs as it becomes available.
Grants and waivers that you must apply to
There are several grants and waivers that require you to submit an application or take some other action. Information on some common grants and waivers is available below.
Grants
State programs
- The Dream Act (to support certain immigrant students with modest grants for emergencies)
- Education vouchers for former youth in care (Minnesota residents who were older children in foster care)
- Fostering Independence Higher Education Grants
- Minnesota Future Together Grant
- Minnesota Postsecondary Child Care Grant
- Minnesota Student Teacher Grant
- Dislocated Worker Programs
- Public Safety Officer's Survivor Grant
VA programs
- Minnesota Veterans' Dependents Assistance Program (children of POW/MIA)
- National Guard education funds
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education Benefit
- ROTC benefits
- Veterans education benefits
Other programs
- AmeriCorps
- Berland Opportunity Grant (for adult students who have been out of school at least 4 years)
- Employer tuition benefits (Check with your employer. If your employer offers employee tuition benefits, contact Third party billing if your employer will pay.)
- Regents Scholarship (For University employees)
- UMC Employee Grant
- Wards of the state (contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information)
Waivers
Tuition waivers may be available to students as part of a scholarship, fellowship, departmental or institutional assistance, or outside agency. Tuition waivers, regardless of their source, are considered a form of financial aid which may reduce eligibility of other financial aid.