Download the Fact Sheet

Click here to download the North Star Promise Program Fact Sheet.

Click here to download the North Star Promise Program Fact Sheet (In Spanish)

By making college accessible and affordable, NSP is intended to have a positive impact on multiple fronts:

• Help stabilize enrollment at Minnesota public institutions of higher education;
• Serve as an economic driver for Minnesota by educating qualified workers who are much needed to fill vacancies in the state’s labor force;
• Create a viable higher education path for Minnesota residents who may have previously thought education was impossible.

Eligibility

• Be a Minnesota resident
• Have a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application below $80,000.
• Attend a Minnesota public higher education institution or Tribal College
• Not be in default on a state or federal student loan
• Be enrolled taking at least one credit
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
• Have not already earned a baccalaureate degree
• Be enrolled in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or certificate

Key Information About the North Star Promise (NSP) Scholarship

• NSP only covers base tuition/fees – not differential tuition, books, dorms, or any other charges
• Is a “last dollar” form of funding, meaning it pays whatever is left of your base tuition/fees AFTER all other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied
• Does NOT produce any leftover funds.  It only pays off unpaid base tuition/fees after all other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied
• Eligibility is 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.
• Length of eligibility:  Students earning 2-year degrees can receive the award for a total of 60 credits. Students earning 4-year degrees can receive the award for a total of 120 credits.

Application Process

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application
• There is no additional application beyond the FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act Application. The eligible college or university you are attending will assess your eligibility on a term-by-term basis and award North Star Promise Scholarships to all eligible students.
• Priority deadline for the NSP Scholarship is June 1.