Minnesota Resident Status

To be eligible as a Minnesota resident for a State Grant, Minnesota Indian Scholarship, Minnesota Work Study and the Postsecondary Child Care Grant, a student must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• Graduated from a Minnesota high school while residing in Minnesota and physically attending a Minnesota college.
• Received a GED in Minnesota after living in the state for at least one year.
• The student lived in Minnesota for at least one year for other than educational purposes (was not enrolled for more than 5 credits in any term during that time).
• Is a member (or spouse or dependent of) of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Minnesota for active federal military service.
• Is a spouse or dependent of a veteran who is a Minnesota resident.
• Relocated to Minnesota within 12 months of a presidential disaster area declaration if the disaster disrupted the student’s postsecondary education.
• Is a refugee who immediately settled in Minnesota and has continued to reside in Minnesota.
• For dependent student: The applicant’s parents lived in Minnesota when the financial aid application was submitted.
• For independent student: The student originally met the resident definition as a dependent applicant, and has not moved from the state since that time.

Students and their families are not penalized for leaving the state to serve in the military or missionary service, or to attend college in another state in they retained Minnesota as their state of legal residence.

Residency requirements may vary for different loans, scholarships, or tuition rates.

If there are any questions about a student’s residency status, contact the financial aid office at the school the student is attending or wishes to attend, and explain the family situation.