Minnesota Scholarships

The Ciresi Walburn Leadership Fellows program supports Minnesota high school graduates with financial need who are committed to leadership, service, and social justice. Selected first-year students join a four-year cohort receiving $17,500 in tuition scholarship each academic year for up to eight semesters, plus mentorship, leadership development, career guidance, and internship support. Fellows live in the Emerging Scholars LLC their first year and participate in cohort gatherings throughout college. Applicants apply through the St. Thomas admissions portal with short essays, complete a FAFSA or Minnesota Dream Act, and attend interviews if selected as semifinalists or finalists.

Minnesota or Iowa residents ages 16 to 27 who are the natural, adopted, step, or full dependent child of a worker injured or killed in a work-related accident with a Minnesota- or Iowa-based employer may apply. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a high school diploma or GED (or be a high school student in good standing), demonstrate financial need, and pursue a bachelor's, associate's, vocational certificate, license, or master's degree at an accredited school. The SFM Foundation awards scholarships of $15,000 to support students affected by a parent's work-related injury, regardless of the insurer involved. Submit a complete application through the foundation. Awards are granted on a competitive basis with the number of recipients varying each cycle.

LGBTQ+ students at least 17 years old who are from or attending school in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Native Nations within those states may apply for PFund Foundation scholarships. Awards range from $1,000 to $12,000 for students pursuing a GED, community college, four-year college, graduate school, trade school, certificate program, or apprenticeship. Funds are distributed directly to recipients. Apply online during the annual application window, typically mid-January through early March. Submit proof of enrollment or admission for the coming academic year. Recipients must provide an IRS Form W9. A community review panel selects awardees notified in June.

Minnesota first-dollar tuition and fee scholarship for BSU undergraduates pursuing a first bachelor's degree who are enrolled members or citizens of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Canadian First Nation. Minnesota residents qualifying for resident tuition are eligible, as are non-residents who are enrolled members of a Minnesota Tribal Nation. The program covers BSU tuition and fees so other grants and scholarships can address housing, books, and living costs. Submit the American Indian Scholarship Program application with proof of tribal enrollment and fewer than 180 attempted college credits.

Individual Minnesota artists in dance, media arts, music, photography, poetry, prose, theater, or visual art, plus culture bearers trained by traditional elders, may apply. Applicants may submit to only one individual grant program per fiscal year and cannot reapply if funded in the prior Creative Individuals cycle. Grants range from $2,000 to $10,000 with no cash match. Funds support creative practice and meaningful engagement with audiences, participants, students, or communities during the grant year (January through December). FY 2027 applications were due March 6, 2026 before 4:30 p.m. via the WebGrants system. Awards are approved at the November board meeting for a January start. The Minnesota State Arts Board piloted Creative Individuals to help artists develop practice and connect with Minnesota communities.

U.S. citizens pursuing campus-based study in the 2027-2028 academic year may apply to one or more stand-alone UNICO Foundation scholarships if they meet each fund's criteria. Most require Italian descent; several funds are open to all ethnicities. Award sizes vary by named fund, from about $1,000 to $10,000, covering high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate entrants, nursing, medical school, study abroad in Italy, and field-specific awards. Online applications are due March 15, 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Applicants generally must reside in or hold chapter sponsorship from listed states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, or Wisconsin), with limited exceptions. UNICO National is an Italian-American service organization whose foundation promotes education, culture, and charitable projects nationwide.

Minnesota resident undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at least half-time at a participating Minnesota institution with a child 12 or younger (14 if disabled) and demonstrated financial need may apply. The maximum award is up to $6,500 per eligible child per academic year. Campus financial aid offices administer awards. Apply through the MNAid Student Portal after completing the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application. The Minnesota Postsecondary Child Care Grant helps low-income students pay for child care while attending classes.

Minnesota resident undergraduates enrolled at least three credits at an eligible Minnesota college or university who demonstrate financial need may receive a Minnesota State Grant. Award amounts vary by institution and need, with a maximum up to $6,400 per year. The grant is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters with annual reapplication. Complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application each year. Exact award amounts depend on the institution you attend. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education administers this need-based program.

Minnesota residents who are one-fourth or more American Indian ancestry, or enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe, and demonstrate financial need may apply for post-secondary assistance at eligible accredited Minnesota institutions. Undergraduates enrolled at least three-quarters time may receive up to $4,000 per year. Graduate students enrolled at least half-time may receive up to $6,000 per year. Apply through the MISP online portal. Undergraduates must qualify for a Pell or State Grant; graduate students must demonstrate financial need and meet satisfactory academic progress requirements. Priority deadline is July 1.

The Bridge Award at Northern Michigan University reduces the out-of-state tuition gap for non-Michigan residents from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, or Indiana who are admitted as first-year students with a high school GPA between 2.75 and 2.99. The award provides five thousand six hundred dollars per year and is assigned automatically at admission with no separate application. It stacks with Wildcat Merit scholarships for students with higher GPAs. Recipients must enroll full-time and maintain a 2.75 cumulative NMU GPA for renewal for up to eight consecutive semesters or until completing their first bachelor's degree.