SAINT PAUL, Minn.—March 26, 2024—Beginning in the fall of 2024, eligible Minnesota residents can earn their undergraduate degree tuition-free and free of required fees at public Minnesota higher education facilities through the North Star Promise Scholarship Program. Metro State University is among the list of eligible institutions and anticipates approximately 1,000 (20%) of its undergraduate student population will qualify.
The North Star Promise Scholarship Program, passed during the 2023 Minnesota legislative session, will cover the balance of a student’s tuition and required fees that remain after other scholarships, grants, stipends, and tuition waivers have been applied. The program expects to enable 15,000 to 20,000 Minnesotans to pursue a higher education degree and thereby become an economic driver for Minnesota by educating qualified workers to fill vacancies in the state’s labor force.
“I am grateful to Minnesota’s leaders for introducing the North Star program and making higher education a right rather than a privilege,” said Metro State President Ginny Arthur. “As we have said since our founding, everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sexual identity, or means, should have the opportunity to earn a degree and pursue their dreams. We will open our doors with a renewed sense of hope this fall; the hope that more students than ever will receive the education they deserve and desire so they can go make a difference for their families, our community, and in the world.”
Metro State is already recognized for offering an affordable higher education. Still, the university recently expanded the role of its Enrollment Management team to include proactive financial aid outreach, including hosting information sessions on tuition payment options. These efforts have already resulted in a three percent increase in FAFSA applications by Pell Grant-eligible Metro State undergraduate students for the 2023-2024 academic year over the previous academic year.
“We know that for an education to be accessible, it must be affordable,” said Arthur. “As affordable as we believe Metro State is, the fact of the matter is, that for so many, an education is out of reach. But between our efforts to increase FAFSA application rates and the State’s ‘last-dollar’ North Star program, there is no limit to the positive impact we can have through a Metro State education.” As evidence, Arthur noted that, already, applications for the upcoming fall term at Metro State are up 24 percent over last year.
Metro State is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. to share more information on the North Star Promise Scholarship Program. The webinar is open free and open to the public. To learn more or to register, visit the Metro State University website at metrostate.edu/NorthStar.
Patty Gibbs
For Metro State University
651.269.7687
patty@pattygibbscompany.com