Grants
Grants, unlike loans, are sources of free money that generally do not have to be repaid. Eligibility is often determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Many grants are available to students. This includes the ALLISS Grant, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Minnesota Future Together Grant, Minnesota GI Bill, Minnesota State Grant, Minnesota State Indian Scholarship, and Veteran’s Educational Benefits. Information about these opportunities is below.
- ALLISS Grants
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Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation Grants
(Two-Year College Opportunity Grant Program)Overview
The Alliss Two-Year Opportunity Grant Award is available to students with financial need who are attending a Minnesota State school and who are enrolled part- or full-time in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diplomas, certificates, and MinnState courses designed to transfer to baccalaureate programs. The Alliss Grant awards shall be for an amount between $350-$1,100 per year, which may be renewable (but not automatically).
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be enrolled in at least 6 credits/semester at Ridgewater College in any A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diploma, certificate or Mn Transfer Curriculum courses designed to transfer to a 4-year baccalaureate program;
- Must not have already earned a baccalaureate degree;
- Must have completed a FAFSA for the current school year or be a MN DREAM ACT student.
- Must intend to transfer and/or pursue a 4-year degree at Ridgewater or another institution.
Application Process
Students shall complete the required Application Form [PDF] to apply.
Grant Administration
- An Alliss Grant shall be for one semester only. To renew an award for a subsequent semester, the student must re-apply and meet all eligibility criteria. Alliss Grants may be used for spring, summer, or fall semesters.
- Alliss Grant awards shall be processed and coordinated with the College’s normal financial aid process and may be used to meet remaining need after the student has received Pell and/or Minnesota State Grants.
- Alliss Grant awards shall be applied directly to student accounts along with other financial aid for the semester for which they are awarded.
Questions on the Alliss Grant?
Contact the financial aid office at:
320-222-7488
[email protected] - American Indian Scholars Program
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The American Indian Scholars Program was established in the 2023 Legislative Session. This program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for Minnesotans eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of any federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution or the University of Minnesota.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at a Minnesota State institution;
- Not have already obtained a bachelor’s degree;
- Have fewer than 180 credits attended at the college-level; and
- Be either a:
- Minnesota resident who qualifies for resident tution and an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation; or
- Student who does not qualify for resident tuition but is an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation.
Additional eligibility details can be found on the MN Office of Higher Education website.
Application Process
Complete the American Indian Scholarship application and submit your tribal enrollment documentation (card or paperwork is acceptable).
Allow 2-3 weeks for processing of your application. If we determine you meet the eligiblity criteria, we will send a new email award notice, and you can view the award in your eServices. Please note that being awarded this scholarship may cause a change to some of your other awards.
- Federal Pell Grant
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The Pell Grant is a program of student financial aid authorized by Title IV, Part A, of Educational Amendments of 1991. In the 2020-2021 school year, this program provided up to $6,345 for eligible students. Pell Grants are awarded according to credit level per semester.
- Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
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The SEOG is available to all Ridgewater College undergraduate students with exceptional need.
- MN Dream Act
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Overview
Undocumented students can apply for state financial aid by accessing the online MN Dream Act – State Financial Aid application. To be eligible for the MN State Grant, the application must be submitted no later than June 30th of the year in question. For example, for school year 2023-2024, the deadline is June 30th, 2024 and for school year 2024-2025, the deadline is June 30th, 2025. Additional details regarding the MN Dream Act can be found on the MN Office of Higher Education website.
Eligibility Requirements
The MN Dream Act will provide certain benefits to undocumented students who meet the following criteria:
- Attended a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years; and
- Graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota; and
- Complied with Selective Service registration requirements (applies only to male students born 1960 or after); and
- Provide documentation to show they have applied for lawful immigration status but only if a federal process exists for a student to do so (does not include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). There is currently not a federal process in place, so this documentation is not currently required.
Application Process
Complete the MN Dream Act – State Financial Aid application annually.
Questions on the MN Dream Act?
Contact
Madalynn Swanson
320-222-7474
[email protected] - Minnesota GI Bill®
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The Minnesota GI Bill® program was established in 2007 to provide postsecondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per semester or term, and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per semester or term. Apply for the MN GI Bill®.
“GI Bill® a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”
- Minnesota State Grant Program
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Minnesota residents who have not completed the equivalent of four years of postsecondary education may be eligible for this grant program. Awards are based on financial need. Note that it is awarded according to credit level and direct costs.
- Postsecondary Child Care Grant
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Overview
The Child Care Grant program provides financial assistance to students who have children 12 and under, are not receiving assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), and who demonstrate financial need for grants, to help pay for child care while pursuing a postsecondary education. Additional details regarding the Child Care Grand and eligibility can be found at the MN Office of Higher Education website.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, students must:
- Have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped)
- Be Minnesota residents
- Be enrolled 1-12 credits or more per term
- Has not received child care grant funds for a period of ten semesters or the equivalent. Students who have withdrawn for active military service after December 31, 2002 are given an extra term of eligibility.
- Not have defaulted on a student loan
- Must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
Award Amount
The amount of child care assistance depends on:
- The student’s Student Aid Index (SAI)
- The number of day care hours necessary to cover education and work obligations
- The availability of funding
- The student’s enrollment status
The maximum award amount is $6,500 per eligible child per academic year. The amount of the award cannot exceed 40 hours of child care per week per eligible child.
Application Process
To apply for the Postsecondary Child Care grant, you must complete the online application. Instructions for applying or creating an MNAid Student Portal Account are available as a downloadable PDF.
Apply OnlineDownload Instructions (PDF)
Questions on the Postsecondary Child Care Grant?
Contact
Racheal Nonweiler
320-222-7476
[email protected] - State Indian Scholarship Program
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This award is based on financial need. Requirements: one-fourth or more Indian ancestry, resident of Minnesota, member of recognized Indian tribe, high school graduate or have GED, ability to benefit from advanced education and approved by Minnesota Indian Scholarship Committee. Apply for the Minnesota State Indian Scholarship.
Contact
Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program:
Megan Fitz Gibbon, Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1-800-657-3866 or 651-259-3931Minnesota Chippewa Tribe: 218-335-8584
Minneapolis American Indian Center: 800-486-8797
- Veteran’s Educational Benefits (Federal)
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Certain veterans and their children are eligible for educational benefits under the GI Bill and other laws. A child of a veteran who has been disabled, who has died in service, or who has died of a service-connected disability may be entitled to education benefits. These tax-free benefits vary depending upon the number of hours the student is enrolled and the number of dependents. For further information, contact the Veteran’s Administration at 1-800-827-1000 or the Veteran’s Service Officer in your area. Students receiving veteran’s benefits must also contact the Financial Aid Office at the time of acceptance of those benefits.
- Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant
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This Fostering Independence Grant program may cover the cost of attendance for Minnesota resident students under age 27 and who were in the Minnesota foster care system at any point after their thirteenth birthday.