For many college students, food insecurity is a daily concern. In an effort to address this issue, the Hunger Free Campus grant program was established to help fight hunger on Minnesota college campuses. All Minnesota public postsecondary institutions, tribal colleges, and private non-profit degree granting institutions are eligible to apply for grant funding.

There is $2.5 million available this grant round, with three different grants available: Sustaining Designation Grant, Pathways to Designation Grant and Equipment Grant.

The 2024 grant application is now live, and eligible colleges and universities are invited to apply by May 23.

Supporting the needs of pregnant and parenting students to achieve in higher education, institutions and organizations can apply now to receive funding from the Student Parent Support Initiative. A new competitive grant program, administered in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, the initiative will fund services to support the academic goals, health and well-being of parenting students in Minnesota.

Eligible services include program development, start-up of on-campus childcare, student parent data collection and evaluation, scholarships for student parents, and other support services that provide access and eliminate barriers for parenting students.

There is $6 million available in grant funding with contracts to cover a two-year period. Eligible institutions and organizations are invited to apply by May 30.

Minnesota students who plan to attend college in fall 2024 are encouraged to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. Across the nation and statewide, FAFSA filing numbers are down compared to previous years. This decreasing statistic comes at a time when more students than ever will qualify for Federal Pell Grants and be able to access game changing state financial aid programs, including the North Star Promise, the new scholarship program offering a tuition- and fee-free pathway for eligible students whose families make less than $80,000 per year. 

For assistance with the FAFSA, Federal Student Aid offers students and families the ability to call, email or live chat on their Contact Center webpage. 

For general application or process questions, the Office of Higher Education Financial Aid staff can also assist and provide information or guidance. Please contact 651-642-0567. Select option 2. The line is answered Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

New workforce preparation and college-credit earning partnerships between high schools and colleges are helping to prepare students for in-demand careers and their postsecondary next steps.

Administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the Concurrent Enrollment Grant program (CEGP) funds the expansion or creation of career exploration opportunities through concurrent enrollment classes that students can take within the walls of their high schools, which provides increased access and exposure to in-demand careers. Students simultaneously earn high school and college credit while learning relevant career-focused coursework.

This year's awarded grantees include the partnership between Bethel University and Harding High School of St. Paul Public Schools, as well as parternship between Central Lakes College and Staples-Motley High School of Staples-Motley ISD 2170.

By leading the college admissions process with affirmation, rather than contingency, the Direct Admissions program is showing high school seniors across Minnesota that they are college capable, and they have multiple higher education options to select from. Complete College America recently highlighted Direct Admissions on their podcast, CCA on the Air.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education's Assistant Commissioner of Programs, Policy and Grants Dr. Wendy Robinson and Direct Admissions Coordinator Aaron Salasek shared their thoughts on Minnesota's inclusive and expansive Direct Admissions model, its effect on closing the educational attainment gap, and vision for the future state of college admissions.