North Star Promise Scholarship
Offered by Minnesota Office of Higher Education · Free to apply
Minnesota covers 100% of the tuition and fees left after other grants and scholarships for residents whose family adjusted gross income is under $80,000, at Minnesota public colleges, University of Minnesota campuses, and tribal colleges. Because it is a last-dollar award, Pell and state grant money is applied first and North Star Promise fills whatever gap remains. Nothing extra is required: filing the FAFSA, or the Minnesota Dream Act application for undocumented students, is the application, and eligibility is rechecked term by term. Students who already hold a bachelor's degree are excluded, and private colleges are not covered. The FAFSA or Dream Act form opens October 1 and has to be on file by June 1 to count for that academic year.
How hard is the North Star Promise Scholarship to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~1.5 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Minnesota residents
- Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the North Star Promise Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Minnesota
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
- Household income of $90,000 or less
- Students who already hold a bachelor's degree are ineligible; associate-degree holders may still use it toward a bachelor's
- Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at the college
- Only Minnesota public institutions, University of Minnesota campuses, and Tribal Colleges qualify; private colleges are excluded
- Certificate programs qualify only if at least 8 weeks long and at least 8 semester credits
- For dependent students the income test combines student and parent AGI; independent students use their own (plus spouse if married)
- Undocumented students apply through the Minnesota Dream Act application instead of the FAFSA
- No separate scholarship application; the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application is the application
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is June 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 1 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. June 1 is the last chance, not the target: file in the fall so the last-dollar award is already on the first tuition bill.
- FAFSA or MN Dream Act application opens
- October 1, 2026
- Form must be on file for the award year
- June 1, 2027
- Award applied to tuition and fees
- Each term
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the North Star Promise Scholarship
How much is the North Star Promise Scholarship worth?
The North Star Promise Scholarship awards 100% of tuition & fees (last-dollar) and is renewable in later years.
When is the North Star Promise Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is June 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 1 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. June 1 is the last chance, not the target: file in the fall so the last-dollar award is already on the first tuition bill.
When do North Star Promise Scholarship applications open?
Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1, and close June 1, 2027. June 1 is the last chance, not the target: file in the fall so the last-dollar award is already on the first tuition bill.
Who is eligible for the North Star Promise Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Minnesota; Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners; Household income of $90,000 or less.
Does the North Star Promise Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1.5 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the North Star Promise Scholarship?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1.5 hrs of paperwork.
Is the North Star Promise Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The North Star Promise Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.