Keeping a Promise

A version of this story originally appeared in our 2024 newsletter. View other featured stories

Anoka Technical College Medical Coding and Health Information Technology student Katie George ’27 says cost was a huge consideration when she was planning for her education.

“I would not have been able to support myself while going to school without the North Star Promise scholarship,” she says. “The funding is helping me work part-time to support myself while still having enough time to complete my coursework.”

The North Star Promise program is open to qualifying Minnesota residents enrolled at Minnesota State colleges and universities, University of Minnesota campuses and all tribal colleges in Minnesota. The program is available to all Minnesota residents with an adjusted family gross income below $80,000 and covers costs associated with tuition and fees. The North Star Promise provides funding on a “last-dollar” basis, meaning it covers remaining costs after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied.

The North Star Promise is one of many ways Anoka Tech and Minnesota State are making it easier to start, pay for and finish college. Through tuition freezes and the introduction of new state and federal programs, higher education in Minnesota is more attainable for students from low-income households than ever before.

Here are just a few ways:

• Tuition rates are frozen at 2022-2023 levels through 2025
• Additional scholarship, grant, loan, work-study and education tax benefits to help keep education costs low
• Anoka Tech Foundation crisis grants to provide short-term assistance with essential needs and unforeseen expenses
• On-campus food pantry
• Basic needs resources hub providing students connection to food, transportation and housing resources
• Tutoring, writing and other academic support
• Industry and career connections
  
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