Grants
Grants are sources of financial aid based on need and do not need to be repaid.
Types of Grants
Federal Pell Grants are available to undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Pell Grant amounts are prorated when enrollment is less than 12 credits per semester. Students are limited to 12 semesters (or the equivalent of 12 semesters) of Pell Grant funds.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is available for undergraduate students pursuing their first undergraduate degree who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Students must also receive the Federal Pell Grant to receive the SEOG. Amounts are prorated when enrollment is less than 12 credits per semester. Annual amount are determined by MSUM.
The American Indian Scholars Program was established in the 2023 Minnesota legislative session. The program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for Minnesotans eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of any federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution or the University of Minnesota. Students not eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of a Minnesota Tribal Nation are also eligible for the program.
The Teacher Education Assistance for College Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4,000 per year for graduate and undergraduate students who intend to teach full time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at school(s) that serve students from low-income families.
Applicants must be formally admitted to one of the following TEACH Grant-eligible programs of study at MSUM:
- Undergraduate
- Special Education
- Science Education
- Mathematics Education
- Spanish Education
- Graduate
- Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction (with an undergraduate degree in a high-need field)
- Master of Science in Special Education
- Be formally admitted into a teacher education program that is designated as a high-need program in the state you plan to teach and is included on the Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.
Additional Requirements:
- Meet one of the following academic achievements:
- Score above the 75th percentile on a college admission test (e.g. SAT, ACT, GRE)
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher from the most recently completed semester
- U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Not in default on a federal student loan
- Meet the Standards for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Note: students are not required to demonstrate financial need)
- Agree to teach in a high-need subject area at a school serving low-income students for at least four of the eight years following graduation or ceasing your program of study. The school must be listed on the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools when the student begins teaching. Click “Search,” choose the state and enter the school’s name or the county in which it is located.
Student who fail to complete the four-year teaching obligation within eight years of completing or ceasing their program of study will see the TEACH Grant converted to an unsubsidized loan with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were first disbursed.
Those selected to receive a TEACH Grant are also required to complete the following annual requirements:
- TEACH Grant Counseling
- Agreement to Serve (ATS)
- Those who met the academic achievement requirement with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher are required to maintain a cumulative CPA of 3.25 or higher.
The Minnesota State Grant provides assistant to resident students from low- and middle-income families who are pursuing their first bachelor's degree pay for educational expenses at Minnesota colleges and universities. Students complete the FAFSA annually to apply. Minnesota State Grant amounts are prorated when enrollment is less than 15 credits per semester.
Notice on Minnesota State Grant Funding for the 2024-2025 school year 11/21/2024
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education has announced that, due to a historic increase in enrollment across the Minnesota State system, the University of Minnesota system, and many private colleges, the Minnesota State Grant program is projected to face a funding shortfall.
To address this challenge and extend funding to as many students as possible, the following measures have been implemented:
- Students eligible for the Minnesota State Grant who complete their FAFSA on or after December 1, 2024, will not receive funding through the program.
- Students eligible for the Minnesota State Grant attending summer 2025 will not receive funding for the summer.
However, students who complete their FAFSA before December 1, 2024, will remain eligible for the Minnesota State Grant for both the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. This includes students who transfer institutions and meet the eligibility requirements.
The Minnesota Post-Secondary Child Care Grant program provides financial assistance to students who are Minnesota residents, have children 12 and under (14 or younger if child is handicapped), are not receiving assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The grant helps pay childcare expenses for students pursuing their first undergraduate degree or a graduate/professional degree.
The maximum award amount is $6,500 per eligible child per academic year. The amount is based on the student and spouse's income, the number of people in the student's family, the number of eligible children within the family who need childcare, and the student's credit level. The grant is limited to a period of ten semesters of attendance or the equivalent.
The Minnesota GI Bill Grant provides post-secondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans, currently serving military, national guard and reserve members who served after September 11, 2001, and eligible spouses and children. This grant is separate from the Federal GI Bill.
Eligible students can receive up to $5,000 annually. The lifetime limit is $15,000
The Minnesota Dream Act (also known as The Prosperity Act) provides in-state resident tuition rates and state financial aid to undocumented students who meet certain criteria. These state financial aid programs include the Minnesota State Grant and the Minnesota Post-Secondary Child Care Grant. The Minnesota Dream Act is an annual application submitted to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education notifies MSUM which students are eligible.
The Minnesota Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant is a financial aid program that seeks to eliminate the cost of higher education as a barrier for Minnesota students who were in the foster care system. Minnesota residents under age 27 who were in the Minnesota foster care system at any point after their thirteenth birthday, are eligible. The grant covers the cost of attendance at any eligible Minnesota public or participating private college and university, including MSUM. To apply, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Minnesota Dream Act application. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will work with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to confirm your information and communication your eligibility to MSUM. MSUM will include Fostering Independence Grant as part of your official financial aid offer.
Beginning fall 2024, the North Star Promise (NSP) will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for eligible Minnesota residents at MSUM by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied. Eligible students must have a family adjusted gross income as reported on the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act application below $80,000. Eligibility will be determined by MSUM. No additional application is required.
Students who are eligible for NSP and Pell Grant may also be eligible for a North Star Promise Plus (NSP+) award. Students will be automatically reviewed to determine if they are eligible for NSP+, no additional application is required.
The Moorhead Scholars program is a “last-dollar” initiative created through a partnership between Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) and Moorhead Area Public Schools (ISD 152). It covers any remaining tuition costs after federal, state, and institutional aid are applied, providing free tuition to high-achieving students.
Starting fall 2024, MSU Moorhead created a tuition-free pathway that is a "last-dollar" program for eligible North Dakota and South Dakota residents who are attending MSUM as new students. This is a program funded by MSUM. As a "last- dollar" program, this covers the balance of regular tuition remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied. This program does not cover differential tuition or fees.
Eligible students must have a family adjusted gross income as reported on the FAFSA below $80,000, be new first-time freshman or transfer students, and be full- time students (12-18 credits).