With the cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota coming in at around $21,946 for in-state students and $48,826 for out-of-state students, knowing what financial aid and student loan options are available makes all the difference.
Scholarships, grants, and loans are available to University of Minnesota students to help lighten the financial burden of a college education. After reviewing this guide, you should have all the information you need to make the best decision on how to fund your education at the University of Minnesota.
Scholarships Available to University of Minnesota Students
Gift aid in the form of scholarships is by far the most appealing way to pay down the cost of an education at the University of Minnesota. With possible rewards available that pay the full cost of attendance, and no requirement to pay back funds, scholarships are highly coveted and extremely competitive.
With scholarships administered by the Office of Student Finance, university departments, and other outside organizations, there’s no shortage of scholarships for you to apply to.
Office of Student Finance Scholarships
Thielen Family Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was created by the Thielen Family Scholarship Fund to provide assistance to employed part-time students who would have trouble paying for college without financial help.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- Be either a junior or senior in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
- Have a demonstrated financial need.
- Be registered for between 1 and 11 credits during the fall and spring semesters.
- Maintain good academic standing.
- Be employed while in school.
- Be a U.S. citizen.
This scholarship is available to apply between April and June. Click here to apply.
University of Minnesota Women’s Club Scholarship
This scholarship is provided by the University of Minnesota Women’s Club to help Minnesota residents who have demonstrated academic ability and leadership experience.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities or Rochester campus.
- Have a demonstrated financial need.
- Be registered full-time during the fall and spring semesters.
- Have a GPA of at least 3.2.
- Maintain good academic standing.
This scholarship is available to apply between April 1st and June 15th. Click here to apply.
The Nathan Lifson, Irving Lifson, and Gilda Lifson Bronsztein Scholarship & Harold B. and Helen N. Shapira Scholarship
These scholarships are available to help Jewish-American students interested in pursuing a degree at the University of Minnesota.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- Be active in your local Jewish community.
- Be registered full-time in a degree program during the fall and spring semesters at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities or Rochester campus.
- Maintain good academic standing.
This scholarship is available to apply between April and June. Click here to apply.
LaVerne Noyes Scholarship
According to the Estate of LaVerne Noyes,
“The purpose of LaVerne Noyes in establishing these scholarships was to express his gratitude to, and in a slight degree to reward, those who ventured the supreme sacrifice of life for this country and for mankind in this war for the liberty of the world, and, also, to aid in keeping alive, for generations to come, the spirit of unselfish patriotic devotion which these men displayed and without which no free government can long endure.” 
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Be a direct descendant of an American Army or Navy veteran of World War 1 whose service was terminated by either honorable discharge or death.
- Be registered full-time in a degree program during the fall and spring semesters at any of the University of Minnesota system schools.
- Have a demonstrated financial need.
- Maintain good academic standing.
This scholarship is available to apply between April and June. Click here to apply.
The Dr. A.A. Granovsky Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students of Ukranian ancestry with financial need who have a connection to their nationality, and who are interested in helping to improve other students of a similar background.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- Provide proof of Ukrainian descent.
- Write an essay describing your involvement in the Ukrainian community.
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
- Have a demonstrated financial need.
- Maintain good academic standing.
This scholarship is available to apply between April and June. Click here to apply.
Collegiate Scholarships
Each department within the University of Minnesota system selects recipients for their scholarships based on a variety of criteria.
For specific information on eligibility and the application process in your department, follow the links below:
- College of Biological Sciences
- College of Continuing and Professional Studies
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences
- College of Design
- College of Liberal Arts
- Carlson School of Management
- Medical School
- School of Nursing
- College of Pharmacy
- School of Public Health
- College of Veterinary Medicine
Cooperative Scholarships
The University of Minnesota works in partnership with a variety of outside organizations and agencies to provide the following cooperative scholarships:
- Horatio Alger Association Scholarship
- Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program
- Page Education Foundation’s Page Grant
- Wallin Scholarship
- Tillman Military Scholars Program
- Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Military Scholarships. For more information, contact the University of Minnesota ROTC departments below:
Campus-Wide Scholarship Resources
The University of Minnesota recommends the following resources to help find other scholarships available:
- Freshman scholarships
- Graduate Fellowship Office
- Graduate Assistant Employment Office
- Learning Abroad Center Study Abroad Scholarship Search
- Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) scholarships
- U Promise scholarship
Outside Scholarship Resources
The University of Minnesota recommends the following tools and resources to help find additional scholarships from outside organizations:
- The College Board
- College Express Search
- Fastweb!
- FinAID: The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
- Scholarships.com: Free College Scholarship Search & Financial Aid resource
- Thomson-Peterson’s Financing Education
- USNEWS financial aid
- Study Abroad Funding from IIE Passport
Grants Available to University of Minnesota Students
Grants and waivers are another great way to cut down on the cost of an education at the University of Minnesota. Grants are awarded based on financial need (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)) and other specific criteria depending on the source of funds.
Upon filing the FAFSA and being accepted into the University of Minnesota, you are automatically considered for the following grants:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Minnesota State Grant
- U Promise Scholarship
Grants and Waivers Requiring Applications
In addition to the above, there are also grants available that you have to apply to, including:
Employment or Service-Related Grants
- AmeriCorps
- Dislocated Worker Programs
- Employer tuition benefits (Check with your employer)
- Fellowships and assistantships for graduate students
- Minnesota Teacher Candidate Grant
- National Guard education funds
- ROTC benefits
- TEACH Grant Program
- Regents Scholarship (For University employees)
Demographic or Family Related Grants
- Blind and deaf student tuition waivers
- Childcare grants (for students who are parents)
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Surviving Spouse/Dependent Education Benefit
- Minnesota Veterans’ Dependents Assistance Program (children of POW/MIA)
- Senior Citizen Education Program
- Public Safety Officer’s Survivor Grant
- Education vouchers for former youth in care (Minnesota residents who were older children in foster care)
- Wards of the state (contact a One Stop counselor for more information)
University of Minnesota Work-Study Program
If you are interested in working while attending the University of Minnesota, the Federal Work-Study Program is the perfect opportunity. Work-study is awarded as part of your financial aid package and is dependent on financial need.
While filling out the FAFSA, you must indicate you are interested in the Federal Work-Study Program before being able to apply for work-study jobs on campus. Work-study jobs are not guaranteed, and like any other job, you must apply for positions that you’re interested in.
For more information on the work-study program at the University of Minnesota, click here.
University of Minnesota Student Loans
If grants, scholarships, and work-study are not enough to cover the cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota, student loans are your last option. There are plenty of student loans available — student loans from the Federal government, the University of Minnesota, and private lenders.
Of all the student loan options available, federal student loans have the best terms and benefits. They usually have lower interest rates than private loans, and some don’t require you to begin repaying until you’ve finished school. To apply for federal loans, you have to file a FAFSA, which will determine your eligibility.
For more information on federal and University of Minnesota student loans, follow the links below:
University Trust Fund Loan (UTFL)
Private Student Loans
If all else fails, your last option is to take out a private student loan. These usually come with higher interest rates, which makes them less appealing than federal student loans. It is recommended that you revisit your Financial Aid Package and make sure you’ve exhausted all other options before opting for one of these.
For help finding information on private student loans, the University of Minnesota recommends FASTChoice.
