University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Scholarships

Advice on Financial Aid

Finding scholarships and other financial aid is crucial for college students. Most financial aid is need-based and requires filling out the FAFSA form to be considered. The University of Minnesota automatically screens students for scholarships they may be eligible for at the time of admission. Most University scholarships are divided by the college a student is in. For example, there are specific scholarships for students in the College of Liberal Arts, and there is one application to submit for all of those scholarships. Scholarships can be University- or organizationally-funded. They may or may not be renewable every year. Although almost all students receive some sort of financial aid, it is usually not substantial in proportion to the cost of attending U of M. The big size of the U plays a negative role in this situation. In order to assist more students, the amount of monetary aid goes down. Therefore, many students have to take out federal or private loans with often high interest rates. The onestop.umn.edu also suggests some other scholarship sites that can be used to apply for more aid. These are not affiliated with the U of M, but they can be a vital resource. Freshmen have a higher chance of getting scholarships than continuing students. Therefore, incoming freshmen should highlight all of their strengths in their application. Make sure to check out the financial aid page at the "One Stop" website for the scholarships that require supplementary materials. Most college scholarships expect a 3.0 GPA, as well. Many popular majors such as psychology and journalism also have donors specifically for students admitted in these majors. Academics and diversity play a key role in these competitive decisions, so try to stand out in your applications and scholarship essays. The easiest way to get information about scholarships and other aid is to stop at any "One Stop" office with any questions or concerns.