The Minnesota GI Bill program was established in 2007 to provide post-secondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans and servicemembers. Eligible spouses and children of deceased or severely disabled eligible Minnesota veterans may also qualify. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 per year and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per semester.
Apply online once each academic year through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
State eligibility requirements
You must be a Minnesota resident enrolled at a participating Minnesota institution, and one of the following:
- A veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time
- A non-veteran who has served honorably for a total of five years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001
- The spouse or child of a person who has served in the military at any time and who has died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of that military service. (You must also be eligible to receive federal veterans education benefits as a spouse or dependent.)
School requirements
You must be a University of Minnesota student in a degree-seeking program, and have completed the FAFSA.
Non-degree students are not eligible for the MN GI Bill.
The MN GI Bill is a need-based form of financial aid. You may meet the eligibility requirements but not be awarded funding because this is a need-based program. Furthermore, the MN GI Bill takes into consideration not only your financial aid, but all of the GI Bill® benefits you receive.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.