New Data on Minnesota’s Free Tuition Program Elicits Positive Feedback

(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – More than 53,000 college students in Minnesota were aided by the state’s free tuition program in its first year. A new summary of the benefit for low-income students is drawing optimism in the higher ed community, even with other financial pressures still a concern. Launched last fall, Minnesota’s North Star Promise covers tuition and fees for students with a household income of less than $80,000. State officials say the number of recipients exceeded expectations, helping carve out positive enrollment trends.

Molly Leutz, policy director, Lead MN, which works with students at community and technical colleges, agrees these numbers reflect a strong appetite for people to overcome cost barriers and head to class.

“As we recover sort of still from pandemic losses in enrollment, the North Star Promise is an effective tool in encouraging and enabling college attendance and access,” she explained.

Leutz said even though two-year schools are known for lower tuition, a recent survey of students in the Minnesota system revealed that 97% of respondents labeled access and affordability as a top priority, and added that says when factoring in books, cost of living and child-care needs, and stack them up against available grants, college affordability is still very elusive.