College is FREE in Minnesota!

Tell Us More:

Thanks to the North Star Promise, Minnesotans earning less than $80,000 annually can attend any of Minnesota's 41 public and tribal colleges and universities tuition-free.

College graduates make $1.3 million more over their lifetime than high school graduates:

  • NURSE

    $87,291 annual salary

    43,201 openings in Minnesota over the next decade

  • TEACHER

    $64,362 annual salary

    18,844 openings in Minnesota over the next decade

  • SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

    $114,851 annual salary

    1.5 million openings in the U.S. across the next decade

  • ELECTRICIAN

    $74,451 annual salary

    11,760 openings in Minnesota over the next decade

  • DENTAL HYGEINIST

    $86,336 annual salary

    3,152 openings in Minnesota over the next decade

How Does the North Star Promise Work?

1. Decide where you
want to go.

2. Complete the
College Application.

3. Complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Application.

Details of the North Star Promise Program

Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet the following criteria to qualify:

  • 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 (including those earned in a foreign country)

  • Be enrolled in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or certificate

Eligible Institutions

All Minnesota public higher education institutions and Tribal Colleges will be eligible.

What’s Your Return on Investment?

Consider college expenses as a significant investment in your future. From undergraduate tuition to living costs, these expenses add up. So, is the cost of a college education worth it?

The answer varies based on factors like the degree pursued, the institution attended, duration of study, and post-graduation career path. Nonetheless, a college degree typically yields a positive financial outcome over time.

To assess the value of their educational investment, individuals often compare expected salaries based on their chosen major with the total cost of attendance at both in-state and out-of-state colleges. Take a look at this data from Georgetown University on the expected return of investment for Minnesota colleges and Universities


https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/roi2022/