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. The NSP scholarship is considered a “last-dollar” program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied.
See If You Qualify for Financial Aid & Scholarships
Net Price Calculator
The Net Price Calculator tool estimates how much financial aid you may qualify for to calculate your "net price." Net price is the total cost of attendance at Minnesota State Mankato after subtracting your estimated financial aid.
Eligible students must
- Be a Minnesota resident
- Have a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below $80,000 (FAFSA or MN Dream Act application)
- Attend a Minnesota public higher education institution or Tribal College
- Not be in default on a state or federal student loan
- 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
What does "last dollar" mean?
The scholarship will cover the balance of your tuition and fees after other gift aid funding (scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, certain veterans' benefits, etc.). Any grants or scholarships you already have (from the university, private companies, community scholarships, etc.) would first be applied to your tuition and fees balance before the North Star Promise Scholarship is calculated. Loans and work-study are not sources of gift aid.
Other costs, such as housing, food, books, supplies, and transportation, are not considered for the North Star Promise Scholarship.
North Star Promise Scholarship Examples
Here are a few examples of what some hypothetical North Star Promise award calculations could look like on our campus for the fall of 2024:
|
A. |
$9,500 |
Tuition/fees |
|
|
-$7,300 |
Pell Grant |
|
|
-$3,000 |
MN State Grant |
|
=$0 |
North Star Promise Scholarship (the full tuition and fees are paid for) |
|
B. |
$9,500 |
Tuition/fees |
|
|
-$5,500 |
Pell Grant |
|
|
-$2,700 |
MN State Grant |
|
|
-$1,000 |
Other Grant, Scholarship, or Waiver |
|
=$300 |
North Star Promise Scholarship |
|
C. |
$9,500 |
Tuition/fees |
|
|
$11,672 |
Room/meals (student living on campus) |
|
|
$21,172 |
|
|
|
-$7,300 |
Pell Grant |
|
|
-$3,000 |
MN State Grant |
|
|
$1,000 |
Maverick Scholarship (or other grant, scholarship, or waiver) |
|
|
$0 |
North Star Promise Scholarship (the full tuition & fees are paid for) |
|
=$9,872 |
Net Price |
Application Process
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application.
- That’s it! The Financial Aid office will determine your eligibility on a term-by-term basis and award North Star Promise scholarships to all eligible students.
NORTH STAR PROMISE PLUS (NSP+) AWARD
North Star Promise Plus (NSP+) is a supplemental financial aid award given to students who are North Star Promise (NSP) eligible and who receive a Federal Pell Grant.
For more information on the NSP and NSP+, please visit: Minnesota North Star Promise Scholarship Program
