Award Amount: Varies

The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $6,195 for the 2019-2020 award year. You will receive less money if you are enrolled less than full-time.

Award amounts can change yearly and are determined by Congressional appropriations.

You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

This grant is renewable each year. However, you can only receive the Federal Pell Grant for a total of 12 full-time semesters (or equivalent). If you are getting close to this limit, you'll receive a notice.

How to Qualify:

• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Have financial need
• Complete the FAFSA 

The Federal Pell Grant processor will let you know if you are eligible by sending a "Student Aid Report" (SAR) after you file your FAFSA. If you could qualify for other types of financial aid, this will not affect your Federal Pell Grant.

Learn more about the Federal Pell Grant program.

Award Amount: Varies

SEOG grants are first come, first serve.

WSU receives a certain amount of SEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. Once all the funds have been awarded to students, no more SEOG awards can be made that year.

To have the best chance at a SEOG grant, file your FAFSA as soon as possible starting Oct. 1.

This is different from the Federal Pell Grant program, which provides funds to every eligible student. Learn more about the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program.

How to Qualify: 

• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Have financial need
• Complete the FAFSA

The WSU Financial Aid Office awards SEOG grants based on the FAFSA information and funds available. Priority is given to students with exceptional financial need who have Federal Pell Grants.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program help students who plan to be teachers make college education more affordable.

Learn more about the TEACH Grant.

Award Amount: up to $4,000 per year

This grant is renewable each year.

How to Qualify:

• Complete the FAFSA
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post baccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program
• Be enrolled in a TEACH Grant eligible program
• Meet academic achievement requirements, which are usually scores above the 75th percentile on the ACT or keeping at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA
• Receive TEACH Grant counseling each year that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. This means you agree to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (among other requirements).

Your TEACH Grant could become a Student Loan

Let’s say that you change your major after getting a TEACH Grant--either to a teaching subject that isn’t high-need or a totally new major.

Or perhaps you don’t take a teaching job at a low-income school. Maybe you don’t pursue a teaching career at all.

These decisions would make it so that you are unable to fulfill your service obligation. If you don’t follow through on this obligation, your TEACH Grant funds all will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan

You will have to repay this loan with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.

Award Amount: Varies

The award amount is calculated based on how many credits you are enrolled in. If you are taking at least 15 credits, you would receive the full amount.

If you were awarded State Grant, your award letter will contain a chart that shows what your State Grant amount will be based on each level of enrollment.

How to Qualify:

• Be a Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
• Have financial need
• Have a complete FAFSA on file with WSU within 30 days after the term begins
• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Be enrolled in at least three credits
• Have been in college for fewer than eight full-time semesters (or the equivalent). You can have nine semesters if you have withdrawn from active military service or have had a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after Dec. 31, 2002.
• Must not be in default on a student loan
• Must not be more than 30 days behind for child support owed to a public agency

Learn more about the Minnesota State Grant

Award Amount: Varies

The Minnesota Student Teacher Grant provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in Minnesota teacher preparation programs during one term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience.  On a funds available basis, selected undergraduate and graduate students may receive awards of up to $7,500 for one term.

How to Qualify:

• Be enrolled in an eligible Minnesota college or university in an eligible teacher preparation program that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching;
• Be meeting satisfactory academic progress;
• Demonstrate financial need; and
• Meet one or more of the following requirements:
  • Intend to teach in a designated rural school district in Minnesota.
  • Intend to teach in an identified license shortage area.
  • Belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.

A student must submit a complete application to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for the term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience.

Learn more about the Minnesota Student Teacher Grant including the online application. 

The Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program helps low-income students who have young children pay for child care while the student attends classes.

Award Amount: up to $5,200 for each eligible child per academic year

This grant covers up to 40 hours of child care per week for each eligible child. The amount of child care assistance depends on:

• The number of people in the student's household
• The number of day care hours necessary to cover education and work obligations
• Income of the applicant and spouse
• The availability of funding
• The student's enrollment status

How to Qualify:

• Be Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have been in college for fewer than eight full-time semesters (or the equivalent). You can have nine semesters if you have withdrawn from active military service or have had a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after Dec. 31, 2002.
• Not have defaulted on a student loan.
• Have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped)
• Have a family size and income to qualify for the program
• Must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). If you use MFIP, contact your County Social Office of Higher Education for information about child care assistance.

This grant is available to students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and professional degrees. There are different enrollment criteria depending on what type of degree:

• Undergraduate program: be enrolled for 6-15 credits per term
• Graduate program: be enrolled for 1-6 credits per term

The Minnesota GI Bill program helps make college education more affordable for eligible Minnesota veterans who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Learn more about financial aid for people in military service

Award Amount: Varies

• Full-time undergraduate or graduate students could receive up to $1,000 per semester or term.

• Part-time students could receive up to $500 per semester or term.

• This grant is renewable each year.

How to Qualify:

• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a participating Minnesota institution

You must also be one of the following:

• Veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time on or after Sept. 11, 2001
• Non-veteran who has served honorably for at least five years total as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after Sept. 11, 2001
• Surviving spouse or children of a person who served in the military on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and who has died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of that military service

How to Apply

• Complete the MN GI Bill application
• Complete the FAFSA
• Provide the financial aid office with a copy of your DD214

Award Amount: Varies

In May 2013, the MN Dream Act (also known as the Prosperity Act) was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Dayton. Undocumented students meeting the criteria in the MN Dream Act are now eligible for in-state tuition rates, privately funded financial aid administered by Minnesota public colleges and universities and can apply for state financial aid.  Undocumented students are eligible to apply for a MN State Grant and other state financial aid programs if they were granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) prior to establishing state residency or if they meet all the requirements for the MN Dream Act. Otherwise, students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens to apply for a MN State Grant using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How to Qualify:

The MN Dream Act will provide certain benefits to undocumented students who meet the following criteria:

• Attended a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years; and
• Graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota; and
• Registered with the U.S. Selective Service (applies only to males 18 to 25 years old); and
• Provide documentation to show they have applied for lawful immigration status but only if a federal process exists for a student to do so (does not include applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). There is currently not a federal process in place, so this documentation is not currently required.

Learn more about the MN Dream Act, including the application and required documentation. 

This program is designed to provide eligible Minnesota residents a tuition-free pathway for earning a associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in high-need careers. Funding comes from the State of Minnesota and is awarded to eligible students after grants and scholarships have been paid.

If you are eligible for a Minnesota Future Together Grant, you will be contacted with an award amount or additional questions to determine your eligibility.

If you do not receive a communication from the Financial Aid Office but believe that you are eligible for the spring term, please complete the application for the program.

Eligible Educational Programs

• Healthcare: High-need areas such as nursing, healthcare social workers, 
• STEM: High-need programs include software development, software analysts, engineers, web developers, statisticians, 
• Business: High-need programs include accounting, financial management, auditors, human resource managers, bankers, and project managers.
• Education: High-need programs  include early childhood educators, childcare workers, school counselors and social workers 
• Public service: High-need programs may include law enforcement officers, probation officers, and public administration 

Income Eligibility

You must meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)* of less than $50,000 as reported on FAFSA or MN Dream Act Application
• Have a Family AGI* of less than $100,000 as reported on FAFSA or State Aid Application and have worked in a critical industry listed in Executive Order 20-74 at least part-time between March 1, 2020 -Dec. 31, 2021
• Received unemployment benefits between March 1, 2020 -Dec. 31, 2021

*Family AGI for a dependent student includes parent and student AGI and for an independent student it includes student and spouse AGI.

Other Eligibility Factors

• You first enrolled during the 2021-22or 2022-23school year OR you are returning to college and have not been enrolled at any college in the last three semesters.
• Meet the Minnesota residency criteria
• Not have already earned a baccalaureate degree
• Not in default on a state or federal student loan
• Not on a SAP/FA suspension

Student eligibility for the grant will be determined every semester. You will need to fill out the FAFSA each year. A student who receives a grant one semester is not guaranteed to receive funding for the next semester.

Eligibility is subject to the availability of funds and any changes in your enrollment, FAFSA, or other financial aid may change the amount you receive each semester.

Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship Pilot Program provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing to become teachers, have demonstrated financial need, and belong to racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the state’s teacher workforce.

Award Amount: Up to $10,000

The annual award for full-time students is up to $10,000. Awards for students enrolled less than full-time are prorated on a per-credit basis.

For undergraduate students, full-time means enrollment in a minimum of 15 or more credits per term. For graduate students, full-time means enrollment in a minimum of six graduate credits or equivalent.

Students may receive up to $25,000 in a lifetime.

How to Qualify

To be eligible, students must:

• Be enrolled at an eligible institution located in Minnesota in either:
  • Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved teacher preparation program seeking initial licensure
  • Two-year program specifically designed to prepare early childhood educators
• Be a person of color or American Indian
• Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements as defined by the institution
• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MN Dream Act application for aid year
• Demonstrate financial need

How to Apply

Interested students should complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application before completing the Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color application.

The priority deadline is June 17, 2022.

Students should contact the WSU Financial Aid Office to submit the College or University Section of the application.

Information and application forms will also be available from:

Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship Pilot Program
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108

Tel: 651.642.0567 or 800.657.3866
Fax: 651.642.0675