Tuition at Minnesota’s public colleges would be free to residents whose families earn less than $80,000 annually, starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, under an agreement reached by legislative negotiators.
If the full House and Senate accept the language qualifying Minnesotans would no longer have to take on debt to get a public college degree.
The “North Star Promise” free tuition program would cost about $117 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, including startup costs. After that, it would cost about $49.5 million annually.
“We’ve been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses,” said Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Omar Fateh, a Minneapolis Democrat. “If we don’t do something quick, we’re at risk of shutting down some campuses … I see this bill as an enrollment driver.”
Qualifying students would have to attend a two – or four-year school in either the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State systems, or a tribal college. Private college tuition would not be covered.
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