30 minutes
Minnesota Teaching Program Finances
Explore options for financial aid, scholarships, loan forgiveness and more.
Explore options for financial aid, scholarships, loan forgiveness and more.
You know what you want to teach and what program you want to attend. You’re excited to start your teaching program, but then you see the tuition cost. How will you pay for this? Is a teaching program worth the cost?
The short answer is yes. Becoming a teacher doesn’t just mean getting your teaching license. You’re also starting a career that makes a difference in your community, includes health and retirement benefits, and comes with professional growth built into the job.
When deciding how to pay for your teaching program, remember that you have options. Below, we guide you through some of the best ways to pay for your program.
If you have any questions about your teaching program applications, reach out to a TeachMN coach or program admissions staff for support. We’re here for you.
The first step is to look for grants and scholarships from your program. If your teaching program is through a college or university, you may be eligible for funds from the government through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You might even qualify for more than one type of financial aid!
Grants are free money for school. They come from the government or local organizations and colleges. These resources are often awarded based on things like income and family size. Some grant providers, such as small businesses and nonprofits, may have specific eligibility requirements.
The Minnesota State Grant, provided by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, helps you cover undergraduate tuition costs at colleges and universities in Minnesota. The award amount is based on your financial need and varies depending on factors like family income, enrollment status and the cost of attendance.
The North Star Promise is a grant program that provides free tuition to eligible undergraduate students attending Minnesota colleges and universities, covering the gap between tuition costs and other financial aid. Its purpose is to make higher education more affordable. The award amount varies based on your circumstances.
The TEACH Grant—which is unrelated to TeachMN—is a specific type of award offered by the Federal Student Aid office (the same one that runs FAFSA). The TEACH Grant offers up to $4,000 a year to students entering the teaching profession.
Sticking to these guidelines is important. Otherwise, your TEACH Grant turns into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, which means you have to pay it back with interest. See the TEACH Grant website for more details.
These grants are awarded during your final student teaching semester and available for both undergraduate and graduate students. You could receive a one-time award of up to $7,500 from one of these grants.
The Minnesota Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant is available if you plan to teach in a Minnesota shortage area or rural school district after earning your teaching license.
The Minnesota Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant is available if you belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce. You can receive a one-time award of up to $7,500.
To learn more and apply, visit the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. You can also see a full list of available grants and scholarships on their Financial Aid page.
Scholarships are generally awarded to students who have met specific qualifications in areas such as athletics or academics. You may also find scholarships based on the major you choose, your career choice, your hometown, or other factors like race, culture or gender identity.
Scholarships can come from schools, government aid or private organizations. There are hundreds of scholarships and grants out there, ranging from small awards to full-ride scholarships.
If you fill out the FAFSA and apply to a college, you are usually considered for many scholarships—but not always. Check with your teaching program or financial aid office, and search websites like Fastweb, Niche and Scholarships.com to find more scholarships in your area.
You can explore scholarships offered by Minnesota institutions on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education's website, which provides a list of scholarships by college or university. For a full list of available grants and scholarships, visit their Financial Aid page.
You can also check out TeachMN’s Financial Aid Explorer to search for opportunities in Minnesota, or browse our national list of financial aid and scholarships specifically for future teachers.
Are you a Native American student? Get information about grants, scholarships and student loans just for you, through the Native Forward Scholars Fund, American Indian College Fund, American Indian Scholars Program, Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program, and the Minnesota Indian Teacher Training Program.
TeachMN offers scholarships for future teachers! Check out the TeachMN Scholarship page to learn more!
Typically, you’ll need to attend a licensure program through a college or university (rather than an alternative pathway) to be eligible for FAFSA financial aid.
To find out if your program is eligible, you can use the FAFSA school search tool. You can ignore the Federal School Code question; you don’t need to know yours to use the tool.
The 2025-2026 FAFSA applies to the school year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. If you plan to enroll in spring 2026, you must submit your FAFSA by the federal deadline of June 30, 2026. Remember that some forms of aid are first-come-first-serve, so apply as soon as you can!
The FAFSA priority deadline for Minnesota is June 30, 2026. Check with the financial aid office at the college or university you plan to attend for more information.
Check out TeachMN’s FAFSA 101 guide for more details.
When you apply for financial aid through FAFSA or through your program, you’ll need to provide some background information. You’ll likely be asked for your name, Social Security Number, email and other general background information.
Some forms also include a Release of Information, which lets specified individuals and organizations access your form details. You’ll need to sign the ROI before your information can be shared.
It’s a good idea to consent to this section, because it lets you be considered for additional financial aid programs.
Most colleges and universities offer work-study options for undergraduate students, which let you earn money by working part-time (usually on campus).
You can often match your work-study position to your program. For example, you may be able to work as a teaching assistant or academic tutor. That means you can get hands-on instruction experience while you pay for your education.
If you already work in a school district, you might want to continue working full- or part-time while attending your teaching program. Many Minnesota school districts offer programs with discounted tuition for employees who are looking to get licensed. It’s worth finding out if your school offers extra support for employees who are pursuing a teaching license.
Your school may have scheduling support, such as revised work hours. For example, if your normal work hours are from 8:00am–4:00pm, your school may let you leave a few hours early in order to attend class.
Schools may also provide tuition reimbursement for staffers who are choosing to continue their education.
Not only does the assistance benefit you, it’s also a great way for schools to retain skilled and driven employees. Consider asking about these programs in your next interview.
Grow Your Own and Special Education Pipeline programs can help you become a teacher, whether you're a paraeducator, non-licensed school staff member, parent, high school student or anyone with a passion for teaching. Through strong partnerships between Minnesota teaching programs, school districts or charter schools, and community organizations, districts can offer scholarships, hands-on experience and personalized support. These programs make it easier for you to pursue a rewarding career in education while helping build a thriving teaching workforce that reflects and strengthens your community.
To see if you're eligible and learn more, visit the Grow Your Own program page.
Programs like AmeriCorps offer opportunities to serve in a community and explore career paths. Some AmeriCorps programs provide hands-on experience for people who want to become teachers.
AmeriCorps partners with other programs and organizations that can help you transition into the classroom after your service.
AmeriCorps positions can last for three months or longer. You’ll earn a small stipend during the program.
AmeriCorps alumni also receive an education award after completing their term of service, which ranges from about $350 to over $6,000, depending on how long you worked for AmeriCorps. You can apply that money to any educational expenses, including tuition and student loans!
While taking out loans may not be your favorite option, federal student loans have some perks.
Click to learn more about federal student loan options.
What’s the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?
Subsidized loans will not accrue interest until after you graduate (usually six months after). Unsubsidized loans start to accrue interest as soon as you receive the money.
Schools and teaching programs may also offer you loans, which you have to pay back with interest. Some programs offer subsidized loans, while others do not (remember, subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you’re completing your program, while unsubsidized loans do.)
You can always reduce the amount of loans you accept, or completely decline them if you don’t need them.
Keep in mind that most programs are through colleges and non-profit organizations, so they keep fees low. If you’re considering a for-profit teaching program, make sure to ask about interest and fees.
If you do use federal loans to pay for your program, you may be able to have all or part of your loans forgiven without paying them back. The federal government offers teachers, especially those who serve in high-need subjects or schools, several ways to apply for loan forgiveness (these programs generally do not apply to private loans through your school).
Check out these programs on the Federal Student Aid website:
The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment Program helps teachers pay off student loans to encourage them to work in the state, especially those from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, and in shortage subject areas or rural districts. Learn more on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website.
Remember, you've got options to pay for your teaching program. It all comes down to what works best for you financially.
Don’t forget: You’re not finished once you hit that submit button!
If you attend a college or university, you’ll get a financial aid letter (or email) with the details of your award offer. You will have to accept these offers to receive them.
Once you formally accept your financial aid package, you’ll be one step closer to getting your teaching license!
As you explore financial aid, you’ll probably apply to some teaching programs. Most programs require a fee—usually around $50—when you submit your application.
Some programs offer fee waivers based on income. Check with an admissions officer to see if you qualify.
You can sign up for TEACH Fee Reimbursements to get up to $100 toward eligible application fees! When you sign up for Fee Reimbursements, we’ll also set you up with a personal coach and checklist app, to help you keep track of application steps and deadlines.
Yes! Check out the TeachMN Financial Aid Explorer to find financial aid opportunities in Minnesota.
Most scholarships, grants and other opportunities have specific deadlines listed on the funding organization’s website.
Usually these pages also provide instructions to guide you through the application process.
What exactly your financial aid covers will depend on your specific award.
Some funding will cover any education-related cost, including tuition, student housing, textbooks and school fees. Other awards only cover tuition. Check to find out what you can pay for with your funds!
If you’re awarded a scholarship or grant, how you receive that money will depend on the terms of the award. Some programs will send funds to you directly. Others will distribute it to your college or university on your behalf.
Other financial aid, such as loan forgiveness, might go directly to your loan provider to deduct from the remaining balance of your loans.
You can usually find additional details about fund distribution on your funding organization’s website.
TeachMN currently only provides support and information for teaching opportunities within the United States.
Applications have a lot of steps, and we’re here to support you with all of them.
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