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Scholarships
Top Minnesota scholarships for you
Find Minnesota scholarships that can help you pay for college.
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What are Minnesota scholarships?
Minnesota scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in Minnesota or looking to go to school in Minnesota. Minnesota scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for Minnesota scholarships
Before you apply for Minnesota scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for Minnesota scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are Minnesota scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over Minnesota scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find Minnesota scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find Minnesota scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”

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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for Minnesota
Minnesota American Legion Memorial Scholarship
Due: 4/1/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
$500
Applicant should include at least two (2) letters of recommendation.
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota Scholarships
Due: 3/5/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
Department scholarships are awarded to deserving sons or daughters, grandsons or granddaughters of a veteran who need financial assistance to avail themselves of higher education at the post-secondary level. These scholarships are to be applied only toward the expenses of tuition, books or similar fees, at an accredited institution of higher learning. Each scholarship will be paid directly to the school, in the amount of $1,000.00 for any one year. Satisfactory progress must be made with grades reported to the Department of Minnesota. To be eligible to apply for these scholarships, the veteran must have served in the federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941 and have been honorably discharged or is still serving. Applications must be submitted by March 5th to the Unit President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit located in your school district or the Unit that holds your membership.
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota Past Presidents' Parley Health Care Scholarship
Due: 3/15/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
The 85th American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, which is "A Constitutional Speech Contest" purpose is to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. It also develops leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, and privileges of American citizenship.
Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program-Minnesota
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$6,500
The Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program-Minnesota is open to low-income students with young children and pays for child care while the student attends classes. Recipients must be Minnesota residents who have a child 12 years old or younger, enrolled with 1-12 credits or more per term (undergraduates) or 1-6 credits or more per term (graduates), have not received child care grant funds for ten semesters or the equivalent, and not have defaulted on a student loan. The student must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). This award is available to all public postsecondary schools and private, baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities located in Minnesota, or nonprofit, two-year vocational schools granting associate degrees. Please visit the award's website for more information.
Minnesota State Grant Program
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$2,603
The Minnesota State Grant Program is open to students Minnesota resident students who are graduates of a secondary school or its equivalent or are at least 17 years of age and will be enrolled as undergraduates for at least three credits at one of more than 130 eligible schools in Minnesota. The grant is limited to students who have not yet attended eight full-time semesters of postsecondary education or the equivalent, students who have withdrawn for active military service or a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after December 31, 2002, are given an extra term of eligibility, and students who have not received a baccalaureate degree. Please visit the award's website for more information.
Printing Industry Midwest Education Foundation Scholarship
Due: 4/3/2025
$2,000
The Printing Industry Midwest Education Foundation offers renewable scholarships to those enrolled in two or four-year institutions and technical colleges offering degrees in the print communication discipline. In order to ensure acceptance, students must apply for admission to an accredited technical school, college or university. The scholarship grants are restricted to accredited colleges, universities, and technical schools that offer established one, two, and four-year programs leading to an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or graphic arts diploma recognized by the print communications industry, and are approved by the PIM Education Scholarship Committee. Priority will be given to a son or daughter of a full-time employee of a member of the Printing Industry Midwest. Applicants must provide two recommendation forms completed by a high school teacher, principal, advisor, counselor, employer, or another adult (other than a family). Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
PFund Foundation Scholarship Program
Due: 3/11/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$12,000
The PFund Foundation Scholarship Program awards LGBTQIA individuals for their commitment and leadership within LGBTQIA communities. Scholarships support post-secondary academic programs as well as non-scholastic leadership development opportunities. Applicants must be either from or currently attending school in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, or South Dakota. Applicants must also be currently enrolled in or admitted to a GED program, community college, four-year college, university, graduate school, trade school, professional certificate program, or apprenticeship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong vision for making a social or political impact in LGBTQIA communities; applicants serving, leading and working for culture change in communities around LGBTQIA issues, recognizing that access to leadership opportunities can vary; and applicants of diverse backgrounds, particularly those from traditionally under-represented communities and demographic groups including but not limited to: (1) Indigenous, Black, People of Color; first generation, immigrant, and new Americans; (2) Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming people, and (3) LGBTQIA Individuals from rural communities across the upper Midwest. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Alphonse A. Miele Scholarship
Due: 4/15/2025
No Transcripts Required
$6,000
The UNICO Foundation will award the Alphonse A. Miele Scholarship to high school seniors at any public or private secondary school who will be attending an accredited campus-based college or university program in the United States. The scholarship will be paid out for up to a maximum of 4 years. Online degree programs are not eligible for UNICO scholarships. Applicants must be of Italian descent. They must have at least one parent of Italian heritage. Documented and notarized proof may be requested by the selection committee, if necessary. Applicants must also reside in or have a UNICO Chapter or District sponsor from one of the eligible states. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the UNICO Foundation Inc. for more information.
Major Don S. Gentile Scholarship
Due: 4/15/2025
No Transcripts Required
$6,000
The UNICO Foundation will award the Major Don S. Gentile Scholarship to high school seniors at any public or private secondary school who will be attending an accredited campus-based college or university program in the United States. The scholarship will be paid out for up to a maximum of 4 years. Online degree programs are not eligible for UNICO scholarships. Applicants must be of Italian descent. They must have at least one parent of Italian heritage. Documented and notarized proof may be requested by the selection committee, if necessary. Applicants must also reside in or have a UNICO Chapter or District sponsor from one of the eligible states. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the UNICO Foundation Inc. for more information.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for Minnesota scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore

Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.

Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.

Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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