Minnesota Student Teacher Grants

If you have questions about this program, please contact the staff member listed on this page via email. If a staff member is not listed, please email info.ohe@state.mn.us and provide a detailed description of your question.

The Minnesota Student Teacher Grants provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in Minnesota teacher preparation programs during one term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience. There are two grants available based on eligibility:

The Minnesota Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant (Formerly Teacher Candidate Grant) provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students who intend to teach in a license shortage area or rural school district after graduating and receiving their teaching license.

The Minnesota Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students who belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.

How much money can you get?

On a funds available basis, selected undergraduate and graduate students may receive awards of up to $7,500 for one term.

Who is Eligible?

In general, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in an eligible Minnesota college or university in an eligible teacher preparation program that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching;
• Be meeting satisfactory academic progress;
• Demonstrate financial need; and
• Meet one or more of the following requirements:
1. Intend to teach in a designated rural school district in Minnesota.
2. Intend to teach in an identified license shortage area.
3. Belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.

A student must submit a complete application to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for the term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience.

Complete applications must include the following:

• Student Section including all the required information that is signed and dated;
• College or University Section completed by an authorized representative at the college or university you attend that includes all of the required information; and
• Completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act application.

Click here to apply online or contact our office if you need a paper application. After you apply, you must communicate with your school's Financial Aid Office to submit the College or University Section of the application. 

What's the Selection Process?

Eligible students with complete applications on file by the priority dates below will be considered for awards in the specified term. If there are insufficient funds to provide an award to all eligible applicants, the applications will be prioritize based on:

1. The financial need of an applicant;
2. Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant: Whether the applicant intends to teach in both a rural school district and a license shortage area
3. Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant: The statewide distribution of funds

Priority Deadlines:
Fall 2022: July 1st, 2022
Spring/Summer 2023: November 4th, 2022

All awards are based on funds availability. Applications will still be accepted after these dates but students are much less likely to be awarded. 

Eligible Colleges and Universities

• Augsburg University
• Bemidji State University
• Bethany Lutheran College
• Bethel University
• Carleton College
• College of St. Benedict
• College of St. Scholastica
• Concordia College, Moorhead
• Concordia University, St. Paul
• Crown College
• Gustavus Adolphus College
• Hamline University
• Martin Luther College
• Metropolitan State University
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Minnesota State University, Moorhead
• North Central University
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• St. Catherine University
• St. Cloud State University
• St. John's University
• St. Mary's University of Minnesota
• St. Olaf College
• University of Minnesota, Crookston
• University of Minnesota, Duluth
• University of Minnesota, Morris
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• University of Northwestern, St. Paul
• University of St. Thomas
• Walden University
• Winona State University

The full list of eligible programs at each College and University are available here.

Eligible Teacher Preparation Program/Licensure Area and Rural School Districts in Minnesota

The eligible teacher preparation program/licensure areas considered to be designated teacher shortage areas are available here.

"License shortage area" means a licensure area that is identified by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board in coordination with the commissioner using data collected for the teacher supply and demand report under MN Statute 122A.091, subdivision 5.  Only licensure areas within the following fields may be identified as a license shortage area:

1. English as a second language;
2. Early childhood;
3. Special education;
4. Career and technical education;
5. Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, and
6. World languages

The rural school districts in Minnesota for the Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant is available here.

Reports

• Student Teacher Grants in Shortage Areas 2022
• Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant 2022