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 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
If you meet the criteria for the Native American Promise Tuition Program, please fill out the tribal enrollment 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.
New state programs
As announced by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the University of Minnesota is excited about implementing the following state programs:
- American Indian Scholars Program
- This program is designed to cover tuition and certain fees for eligible students.
- If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can complete the American Indian Scholars Program Application. To be considered eligible, you must:
- Be pursuing your 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
- AmeriCorps
- Dislocated Worker Programs
- Employer tuition benefits (Check with your employer. If your employer offers employee tuition benefits, contact Third party billing if your employer will pay.)
- Fellowships and assistantships for graduate students
- TEACH Grant Program
- Veterans education benefits
- Regents Scholarship (For University employees)
- MN Postsecondary Child Care Grant
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education Benefit
- Minnesota Future Together Grant
- Minnesota Student Teacher Grant
- Minnesota Veterans' Dependents Assistance Program (children of POW/MIA)
- Senior Citizen Education Program
- Public Safety Officer's Survivor Grant
- Education vouchers for former youth in care (Minnesota residents who were older children in foster care)
- Fostering Independence Higher Education Grants
- Wards of the state (contact a One Stop counselor for more information)
Waivers
Tuition waivers may be available to students as part of a scholarship, fellowship, departmental or institutional assistance, outside agency, or University of Minnesota Regents Scholarship for employees. Tuition waivers, regardless of their source, are considered a form of financial aid which may reduce eligibility for student loans.
- Tuition Waiver for Blind Students
- A full tuition waiver is available to Minnesota resident undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree-seeking students who are legally blind with vision no better than 20/200 or 20 degrees of visual field in the better eye. Students must meet the University of Minnesota’s definition of residency and must be enrolled in a credit-bearing course that charges tuition. Study abroad programs and fee-based programs are not eligible.
- Tuition Assistance for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students
- Minnesota residents who are deaf/hard of hearing and enrolled in an undergraduate degree program may be eligible for tuition assistance to cover any tuition and fee charges remaining after grants and scholarships. A deaf/hard of hearing student is an individual with hearing loss of such severity that they must depend primarily on visual communication, such as writing, lip reading, manual communication, and gestures. Students must meet the University of Minnesota’s definition of residency and receive either a Federal Pell Grant and/or a Minnesota State Grant for each term the assistance is awarded.