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The University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship (U Promise) supports admitted eligible Minnesota residents who enroll at one of the University's five campuses and provides them with access to a great University of Minnesota education.
The University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship (U Promise) is the University of Minnesota's guaranteed commitment to Minnesota undergraduate students whose families make up to $100,000 per year. There are two types of scholarships under the U Promise umbrella: the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship, and the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship. Eligible students can receive only one type of U Promise Scholarship. For example, students who are awarded the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship are not eligible to also receive the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship.
U Promise is available to eligible freshmen and transfer students enrolling at any University of Minnesota campus, including Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Twin Cities, and Rochester. U Promise Scholarships are awarded to eligible Minnesota resident undergraduate students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Residents of Minnesota who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically be considered for the University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship.
To be considered, simply:
The U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship fills the financial gap between an eligible student's federal and state gift aid and 100 percent of tuition and fees ($11,542 for the 2009-10 school year on the Twin Cities campus). If you are a Minnesota undergraduate student who is admitted and your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) shows that you are eligible for a federal Pell grant, and your state and federal gift aid do not meet the full cost of your University of Minnesota tuition and fees, then you will receive the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship. The amount of your U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship will be equivalent to the amount needed to cover the financial gap between your federal and state gift aid and 100 percent of your University tuition and fees.
Pell eligibility, not income level, is the defining criterion for eligibility for the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship. The federal government sets the eligibility criteria for the Pell grant. In general, about two-thirds of students from families earning less than $50,000 per year are eligible for a Pell grant.
U Promise Scholarships are awarded to eligible Minnesota resident undergraduate students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are awarded the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship are not eligible to also receive the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship.
If you are a Minnesota resident undergraduate student who is admitted and your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) shows that you have a family income up to $100,000, then you will receive the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship. The award amount varies between $500 and $1,750, depending on your family's income.
U Promise Scholarships are awarded to eligible Minnesota resident undergraduate students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are awarded the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship are not eligible to also receive the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship.
For more information regarding eligibility and requirements, please contact One Stop Student Services at 612-624-1111, 1-800-400-8636, or helpingu@umn.edu.
U Promise Scholarships are awarded only to eligible Minnesota resident undergraduate students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are a recipient of a U Promise Scholarship your award will be indicated on your Estimated Financial Aid Award Notice.
Admitted University of Minnesota undergraduate students who are Minnesota residents and who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to enrolling will automatically be considered for a U Promise scholarship based on financial need. Please note that international students are not eligible for need-based scholarships.
To be eligible, students must:
Please note that the University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship applies only to fall and spring semesters. Tuition for courses taken during May or summer terms will not be covered.
Students who enter the University as new freshmen are eligible to be considered for up to four years of support under the University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship. New transfer students are eligible for up to two years of support. Renewal is not automatic. Requirements and steps for renewal can be found here.
Over the past several years, the University of Minnesota has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment by substantially increasing the number and average amount of need and merit scholarships available to our students. This effort is part of our strong commitment to the success of our students.
As part of this strong commitment, the University began guaranteeing need-based aid for Pell eligible Minnesota resident undergraduates in fall 2005. In fall 2009, the University expanded its need-based aid programs to include guaranteed tuition aid for eligible Minnesota resident undergraduates with a family income of $100,000 or less. These programs, now part of the University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship, make a U of M education possible for students across the University's five campuses.
There is no limit to the number of eligible students who can benefit from the University of Minnesota Promise Scholarship; all Minnesota residents who meet the eligibility requirements described above will receive either the U Promise Free Tuition Scholarship or the U Promise Middle Income Scholarship.
In addition to the need-based scholarships offered through U Promise, each University of Minnesota campus offers competitive scholarships to new students based on academic merit. Please contact us for more information: