Financial Aid for Current Students

Types of Aid

The purpose of financial aid is to help you afford your college education.

Your financial aid offer is based on the results of your financial aid application, either the FAFSA or the Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application (formerly called the MN Dream Act). Financial aid comes in two main categories, gift aid (free money) and self-help aid (that must be earned or repaid).

Grants are free money to help you pay for school based on your financial need.

Eligibility for grants is determined by your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application results and the Cost of Attendance.

Your grant amounts are based on the number of credits you are enrolled in each term. We recommend that you check your amounts at the Awards by Credit Level in eServices.

Grant programs may have lifetime limits on how much you can receive and most you are not eligible if you have already received a Bachelor’s degree. Because these limits vary by program, we recommend you review the links above to learn more.

Learn more about Scholarships.

Loans are money that the borrower, either student or parent, must repay.

The Federal Direct Loan Program includes subsidized and unsubsidized student loans and the parent PLUS loan, all of which are funds directly from the U.S Department of Education.

Repayment of your student loans is deferred while you are in school at least half time, but you may be accruing interest depending on the type of loan.

More information on Loan Repayment

Learn more about Student Employment/Work Study.