Minnesota Future Together Grant

This program is designed to provide eligible Minnesota residents a tuition-free pathway for earning a certificate, diploma, associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree in high-need careers. Funding comes from the State of Minnesota and is awarded to eligible students after grants and scholarships have been paid.

High-need Eligible Educational Programs may include:

• Healthcare: High-need programs on your campus may include nursing, medical assisting, surgical technicians, healthcare social workers, EMTs, paramedics, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and substance abuse and mental health counselors.
• STEM: High-need programs on your campus may include software development, software analysts, engineers, web developers, statisticians, and agricultural workers.
• Business: High-need programs on your campus may include accounting, financial management, auditors, human resource managers, bankers, and project managers.
• Industry and Technology: High-need programs on your campus may include machine tool technologists, operations managers, HVAC technicians, front line supervisors, plumbers, construction managers, electricians/electrical line workers, heavy duty mechanics, welders, automotive service technicians, and auto body technicians.
• Education: High-need programs on your campus may include early childhood educators, childcare workers, school counselors and social workers
• Public service: High-need programs on your campus may include law enforcement officers, probation officers, firefighters, and public administration

Ridgewater offers a number of eligible majors in these areas.

Who is eligible?

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible for a Minnesota Future Together Grant:

• You are a Minnesota resident
• You first enrolled during the 2021-22 or 2022-23 school year OR you are returning to college and have not been enrolled at any college in the last three semesters
• You are enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a program that leads to a career in one of the high-need areas,
• Not in default on a state or federal student loan,
• Not on a SAP/FA suspension, 
• Not have already earned a baccalaureate degree
• You meet one of the following financial eligibility requirements:
  • Have a Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)* reported on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act Application less than $50,000; OR
  • Have a Family AGI reported on FAFSA or State Aid Application of less than $100,000 and have worked in a critical industry listed in Executive Order 20- 74 at least part-time between March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2021; OR received unemployment benefits between March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2021
    • NOTE:  You must provide either a W2 or unemployment 1099-G for documentation.

*Family AGI for a dependent student includes parent and student AGI and for an independent student it includes student and spouse AGI.

Other Information

Completing the applicable form (FAFSA or Dream Act application) will serve as the application for receiving a Minnesota Future Together Grant, as well as other grants and financial aid resources. If you receive a Minnesota Future Together Grant, the Ridgewater College financial aid office will contact you with an award amount. They may also follow up with additional questions to determine your eligibility. IIf your income is in the $50,000 to $100,000 range and you worked in a critical industry you must also complete the MN Future Together Grant Application and upload your W-2 or 1099-G in the application. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected].

Student eligibility for the grant will be determined every semester, starting with the Spring 2022 semester. You will need to fill out the FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov) each year. A student who receives a grant one semester is not guaranteed to receive funding for the next semester. Eligibility is subject to the availability of funds and any changes in your enrollment, FAFSA, or other financial aid may change the amount you receive each semester.

More resources

• Office of Higher Education’s Minnesota Together Grant page 
• MN Together Grants Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)