University of Minnesota Scholarship Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide

The financial strain of college tuition can be a significant burden for Minnesota students enrolled in college programs. To offset the rising costs of higher education, Minnesota residents can explore various scholarship opportunities available within the state. Numerous scholarship programs are designed to support students during their undergraduate and graduate studies.

The Landscape of Higher Education in Minnesota

Student Debt in Minnesota

Affording college without debt is becoming increasingly uncommon. Student debt creates financial strain that follows students even after they have graduated. In Minnesota, 64% of students graduated college with debt, and 16% with private student loans. The average student debt in Minnesota is $32,012. It is good to note that in 2016, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education found that the rate of borrowing among students began to decrease.

Educational Attainment in Minnesota

In 2018, 83.2% of Minnesota high school graduates graduated on time. However, minority students had much lower high school graduation rates, with only 51% of Native American students, 67% of Black students, and 67% of Hispanic students graduating on time.

After completing high school, many Minnesota residents choose to further their education. In 2018, 35.4% of Minnesotans over 25 had earned a bachelor's or higher degree, surpassing the nationwide average of 31.5%.

Minnesota Colleges and Universities

Minnesota boasts a diverse higher education system, including 30 Minnesota State Colleges and 7 universities, serving 219,643 undergraduate students and 43,192 graduate students. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities stands as the largest college in Minnesota, with 52,017 students. Another prominent Minnesota State College is the University of Minnesota Crookston.

Balancing tuition costs and a demanding course load is a reality for many students. Nearly twice as many students are enrolled in school full-time than are part-time, with 150,826 full-time students and 68,817 part-time students.

Demographics of Minnesota College Students

As is the case with most colleges, there are more female college students than male students in Minnesota. Specifically, 92,832 undergraduate students are men, and 125,100 are women.

Minnesota's diverse student population consists of 142,956 White students, 22,685 Black students, 15,276 Asian students, 14,857 Latino students, and 1,727 Native American students. This diversity also extends to citizenship, as Minnesota is home to 7,300 international students.

The Rising Costs of College in Minnesota

The ever-increasing cost of higher education poses a significant challenge for many students. In Minnesota, the cost of tuition increased by 3.23% from the fall semester of 2019 to the spring semester of 2020. The cost of attendance at a public 4-year university in Minnesota is $21,611. Students who attend private colleges and universities face even higher costs, with the average cost of attendance at a private 4-year university being $45,198.

Carleton College is the most expensive college or university in Minnesota, with a cost of attendance of $74,499 per year. The most expensive public university in Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where in-state students can expect to pay $25,385 per year.

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Financial Aid Availability

Undergraduates in Minnesota receive a total of $2,744,376,638 in aid. While more than half of this is in the form of grants, a significant portion is loans. As students have to pay back loans with interest after they graduate, this reliance on loans hinders many students.

Even undocumented students are eligible to receive financial assistance. Regardless of citizenship status, the Minnesota DREAM Act provides eligible undocumented students, including DACA recipients, with access to state financial aid.

Featured Minnesota Scholarships

Undergraduate and graduate students in Minnesota have numerous scholarship opportunities available to them. Applying specifically to scholarships in MN can increase your chances of winning scholarship funds.

Tyrell Terry "Challenge and Opportunity" Scholarship: This $11,100 scholarship is awarded to one student who has faced adversity during the Covid-19 pandemic. It supports high school seniors in Minnesota or Texas as they go on to university.
Katelynn Berry Memorial Scholarship: This $4,000 scholarship supports high school seniors in Minnesota or Montana who struggle balancing mental health and school.
Crenati Foundation Supporting International Students Scholarship: International students in Minnesota who are not US citizens and wish to have a positive impact in their home country with their future career should apply to this $1,000 scholarship opportunity.
Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship seeks to support student athletes in Minnesota who wish to enrich the lives of their community. Minnesota high school seniors or undergraduate students who play sports are eligible to apply.
Grady Reese Memorial Scholarship: This $500 scholarship supports high school students who have a strong interest in photography as they continue their education. High school students at Lakeville North High School in Minnesota interested in photography are eligible to apply.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Minnesota residents have access to a wide array of scholarships beyond those listed above. Students in Minnesota should apply for as many scholarships as possible to increase their chances of landing a scholarship award. Scholarships can be helpful for students with financial need who might otherwise struggle to pay for their education. On Bold.org, students can find hundreds of scholarships that are perfect for Minnesota students.

Scholarships for High School Students in Minnesota

Students can lessen their future worries over tuition by applying for scholarships as early as high school, including scholarships for high school juniors and seniors.

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Isaac Yunhu Lee Memorial Arts Scholarship
Janey Mae Memorial Scholarship
Shoot Less, Throw More- Girls Wrestling Scholarship
Eleven Scholarship
Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
Richard Neumann Scholarship
Sports In Action Scholarship

Minnesota Scholarships for College Students

Students who are already enrolled in a college program can still find many sources of financial assistance.

Jameela Jamil x I Weigh Scholarship
Education is Bling: The Moore the Blingyer Scholarship
"$$$ Isn't Everything" Scholarship
Women’s History Scholarship
Bold Reflection Scholarship
Papi & Mamita Memorial Scholarship

External Scholarship Programs

Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars Scholarship: This scholarship awards $6,600 and is tailored for high-achieving, female-identifying high school students residing in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota, and attending high school in one of these states. This scholarship opportunity is tailored for students entering 11th or 12th grade.
PFund Scholarship: The PFund Foundation Scholarship provides financial support to LGBTQ+ students from the Upper Midwest at all stages of their education. In 2024, PFund awarded a record $150,000 to more than 60 queer students. The scholarship amount is $12,000.

Navigating the Scholarship Application Process

How to Apply for Scholarships in Minnesota

Applying to scholarships is easy. To apply, all you need to do is create a free Bold.org profile. After completing your profile, Bold will begin recommending relevant scholarships to you.

To apply, you just need to make sure you meet all eligibility requirements and provide all the materials before the application deadline. Some scholarships provide a prompt and ask that you write a short essay on the chosen topic, while others only ask eligible applicants to click "Apply."

It's important to read the information section of scholarships you're interested in to determine what the application process will require. If you feel more confident in your skills in fine arts such as in painting or poetry, there are even scholarships that accept artistic submissions rather than essays.

After you apply for a scholarship, it is up to a scholarship committee to determine if you'll be awarded. Winners will be chosen based on a number of things like academic achievement or how involved an applicant is in community service projects.

Bold.org makes it quick and simple to find the perfect scholarship opportunities for you.

Eligibility for Scholarships

Each scholarship will have the eligibility requirements clearly listed in the description. Some scholarships will be more general and open to students of any education level and major, but others might require applicants to be in a certain academic program like creative writing.

Bold.org will even make it easy to determine your eligibility by blocking you from applying to certain scholarships if your profile information makes you ineligible to apply.

Key Considerations

Minnesota scholarships are financial awards given to students who are either residents of Minnesota or attending colleges and universities in Minnesota.
Some Minnesota scholarships are based on academic merit, while others are awarded based on financial need or other criteria, such as community service or leadership.
Students can apply for Minnesota scholarships through a variety of sources, including the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the individual schools they are attending, and private organizations that offer scholarships for Minnesota residents or students studying in Minnesota.
Look for Minnesota scholarships that match your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal interests, and financial situation.
Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria, such as residency, GPA, major, community service, or financial need.
Most scholarships require you to submit a completed application form, academic transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, and other supporting documents.
Follow the instructions provided by the scholarship provider to submit your application.
After you submit your application, follow up with the scholarship provider to confirm that they received it and ask about the status of your application.
Remember that applying for scholarships can be a competitive process, so it's important to apply for multiple scholarships and to put effort into each application.
The amount of money awarded from Minnesota scholarships can vary widely, from a few hundred dollars to full tuition coverage.
The deadlines for Minnesota scholarships vary depending on the scholarship. Some have early deadlines, while others have late deadlines.
Most Minnesota scholarships are grants or gifts, which means you do not have to repay them. However, some scholarships may have conditions that require you to maintain a certain GPA or fulfill certain obligations, such as community service or research.
Graduate and doctoral students are eligible to apply for Minnesota scholarships. There are several scholarships available for graduate and doctoral students in Minnesota, which may be funded by the state of Minnesota, private organizations, or individual schools.
Some Minnesota scholarships are based on financial need, while others are based on academic merit, community service, leadership, or other criteria.

Addressing Common Questions

Are There Minnesota Scholarships for Out-of-State Students?

Out-of-state students can still apply to state-specific Minnesota scholarships as long as the requirements don't specify that you need to have attended a Minnesota high school or be a Minnesota resident to apply. Many Minnesota scholarships might just require that students be enrolled in a Minnesota college.

Out-of-state Minnesota students can also find other general scholarships on Bold.org in order to expand their scholarship opportunities.

Are There Scholarships in Minnesota for International Students?

There are many scholarship awards that international students in Minnesota are eligible to apply to. The Crenati Foundation Supporting International Students Scholarship is specifically for international students in Minnesota, but students can also look at our list of Exclusive Scholarships for International Students to find other scholarships available throughout the United States.

Are There Minnesota Scholarships for Low-Income Students?

Low-income students have many scholarships intended specifically to support them. Students who face significant challenges in attending university have many resources available to support them. Low-income Minnesota students can apply to the Tyrell Terry "Challenge and Opportunity" Scholarship if they faced hardships during the pandemic.

By creating a profile on Bold.org, you can gain access to many scholarship funds intended specifically for students from low-income backgrounds. Many scholarships will state that applicants demonstrate financial need to apply.

When Can I Start Applying?

You can start applying to scholarships on Bold.org as long as you are at least high school age. Before even beginning a university admission application, you can already have prepared funds for your education. By applying to scholarships in high school students can save themselves from future stress. Many students also take on much more responsibility as they enter college, so it is a good idea to apply in high school while you might have more free time.

Don't worry if you haven't already begun applying to scholarships, many scholarships are open to applicants who are currently enrolled in college or university or even students who have recently graduated.

Are Scholarships Counted as Income?

Scholarships are not counted as taxable income when used for necessary tuition expenses.

University-Specific Scholarship Programs

University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)

Eligibility for Scholarship Consideration: Students must apply for admission by the regular decision deadline for full merit scholarship consideration.

ACT/SAT Scores: Although UMD is test-optional for admission, there are merit scholarships that it may benefit you if you have a strong composite ACT score.

Best of Class Scholarship: Students who attend Minnesota schools that do not rank or are unable to rank multiple students as #1 or #2 and wish to receive consideration for the Best of Class Scholarship are required to submit an admissions scholarship appeal. Required documentation includes a signature and verification from a high school official stating that the student would have been ranked #1 or #2 in the class if the school ranked or would have been ranked #1 or #2 if the ranking of multiple students was allowed. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.9 to be eligible for the Best of Class Scholarship. Additionally, students must apply by the Regular admissions deadline of January 15 to qualify for the scholarship.

Combining Scholarships: Students may only qualify for one admissions scholarship from the Office of Admissions. Scholarships from outside of the university may be combined with your admissions scholarship.

Graduating Early: Should a student graduate in less than four years, they are not eligible to receive the remainder of the scholarship. Students graduating (official degree posted) in less than four years cannot transfer the scholarship to UMD non-degree, graduate, or professional school enrollment.

Outside Scholarships: Consistent with University policy, the total annual aid amount awarded to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance at UMD. Financial aid awards (e.g., loans, work-study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of their program for the academic year, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. When you receive a scholarship from an organization outside of UMD, your existing financial aid award will be reviewed, and adjustments may be made based on the receipt of your scholarship(s). You may see a reduction in other types of aid, such as loans, work-study, or institutional aid.

University of Minnesota - College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS)

New incoming students do not apply for scholarships; rather, the university will automatically review your application for admission to the U of M to determine if you are eligible for a scholarship from the University, the college, and/or an academic department. To make the process easier for you, there is no separate application for scholarships.

The typical freshman scholarship from CFANS ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 per year for four years. Scholarships are based on criteria established by the donors for each scholarship. For example, criteria may include scholastic achievement, consistency of academic record, extracurricular and leadership activities, major and career objectives, place of residence, grade level, or financial need, etc.

Full consideration for academic scholarships is given to students who submit a complete application for freshman admission by either the first (November 1) or second (January 1) application deadlines. Students who apply after that date will be considered on a funds-available basis, though it's unlikely that funds will be available at that time. If you also applied for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA, you will receive a second letter in April that outlines your complete financial aid package, including grants, scholarships, loans, expected family contribution, etc.

If you don’t receive a scholarship as an incoming freshman, there are other opportunities to apply for scholarships in your first year of enrollment. Scholarships are one of two forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Given the breadth of available public and private scholarships, you might wonder where to find those that align with your background and future plans. One way is to check with the financial aid office of each college you may attend.

While an institution might offer you a scholarship as part of the financial aid package without additional paperwork, you may also need to search and apply for specific scholarships. Additionally, some colleges require students to complete the CSS Profile, (an in-depth assessment of financial need) for scholarship consideration.

North Star Promise Scholarship

Beginning in fall 2024, the North Star Promise (NSP) Scholarship program will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for eligible Minnesota residents at eligible institutions as a "last-dollar" program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied. There is not a limit on the maximum term, yearly, or lifetime awarded dollar amount. The amount a student shall receive is based on the "last-dollar" calculation on a term-by-term basis.

Other Scholarship Programs

Scholarships are available to eligible American Indian students who are either undergraduate students enrolled at least three-quarter time or graduate students enrolled at least half time through the American Indian Scholars program.
Education vouchers are federal funds made available to states through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act. Education vouchers are intended to help current and former foster care youth pay for postsecondary education.
Minnesota Paramedic Scholarship is a temporary financial aid program for Minnesota residents completing a paramedic diploma or degree.

University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) Scholarship Opportunities

Incoming first-year students must complete their application for admission and Passion Statement by December 1 to be considered for the following scholarships:

Chancellor's Scholarships - covers tuition, room and board
Faculty Scholarships - covers tuition
Passion Scholarships - amounts vary
Mayo Clinic Invest in Success (MCIIS) - $5,000 renewable

All students regardless of date of application are automatically considered for the following scholarships:

Academic Achievement Scholarship - $1,000 - $3,000
Bachelor of Science in Health Professions - amounts vary
UPromise - amounts vary (FAFSA required)

All admitted students are invited to complete the supplemental UMR Scholarship Application. This application is available throughout the application cycle. Log into your application portal and complete the application by March 1, 2026. Additional scholarship aid and transfer scholarships are available, with amounts varying.

Students are encouraged to apply for external scholarship opportunities in addition to the ones available at UMR along with applying for federal financial aid.

Scholarship Timeline:

August 1 - Application for admission opens
December 1 - Deadline for maximum scholarship consideration and Early Assurance programs
Mid-December - Students are notified if they've been selected to participate in UMR Scholarship Day
January 5 - UMR Scholarship Day RSVP deadline
February 7 - UMR Scholarship Day
Late February - Students are notified of any UMR Scholarship Day awards
March 1 - UMR Scholarship Application Deadline. UMR Scholarship Application awards may be offered up to May 1
May 1 - Deadline to accept offer of admission and submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $100

Students must complete their application for admission and their Passion Statement by December 1 to be considered for UMR Scholarship Day. Scholarship finalists are invited to interview and participate in this annual February event for incoming first-year students.

University of Minnesota National Scholarship

The University of Minnesota National Scholarship is for residents of any state, excluding Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Incoming freshmen are considered for these scholarships based on an overall assessment of the application for admission. Full consideration for academic scholarships is given to students who submit a complete application for freshman admission by either the Early Action (November 1) or Regular (January 1) application deadlines.

The UMN National Scholarship grants up to $60,000 to students from across the U.S who reside in eligible states. Along with academic performance, UMN’s holistic review takes each student’s unique background into consideration when selecting awardees to ensure a diverse student body. These factors can include your talents, achievements, community service, leadership, military service, or evidence of overcoming hardships. Applicants must be citizens, permanent residents, or eligible under the Minnesota Dream Act.

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