Minnesota State Education Benefits
There are several benefits available to you through the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota GI Bill®
The Minnesota GI Bill® program provides assistance to eligible Minnesota Veterans, currently serving military, National Guard and Reserve members who served after September 11, 2001 and eligible spouse and children. The Program provides a maximum benefit of $10,000. Eligible participants can use the benefit in Higher Education, On-the-job training (OJT)/Apprenticeship or License and Certification.
Applicants may receive up to $3,000 per academic year. Applicants must reapply every year for the Minnesota GI Bill®. Application for the Fall semester opens every year in the spring of the year.
This program is different than the Federal GI Bill® (Montgomery, Post 9-11, Veterans Education Assistance Program, Dependents Education Assistance Program or Vocational rehabilitation).
Student Requirements
- Applicants must be a Minnesota resident (defined by Minnesota Statute 136A.101) and
- Under the age of 62 and,
- Enrolled at a Minnesota institution
Eligibility Requirements
- Veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time, or;
- Non-Veteran who has served honorably for a total of five credible 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, or;
- Surviving spouse or children of a person who has served in the military at any time on, and who has died or has a 100% VA determined permanent and total disability as a direct result of that military service and must be eligible to receive federal education benefits under Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship, or Chapter 35 and provide a certificate of eligibility
- Minnesota Resident
Surviving Spouse & Dependent Education Benefit
Surviving Spouse and Dependent Education assistance is provided to spouses and dependents, including adopted and step-children, whose Veteran spouse and/or Veteran parent died while on active duty, or as a result of a service-connected condition. The Veteran must have been a resident of Minnesota when entering the U.S. military, or have been a resident of Minnesota for at least six months prior to passing away due to a service connected disability as determined by the USDVA. Applicants must be Minnesota residents and the spouse cannot be remarried. There is no age limitation for eligible survivors.
If found eligible, survivors are allowed admission to Minnesota postsecondary education institutions either operated by this state or is operated publicly or privately and maintains academic standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable institutions operated in this state. Surviving spouses and dependents will be able to attend free of tuition until he/she obtains a bachelor’s degree. In addition, MDVA will pay $750 per fiscal year for fees, books and supplies, and/or room and board. You may apply for this benefit by accessing the application below and submitting directly to MDVA or applying with assistance through your County Veterans Service Officer.
Veteran Education Assistance
Veteran Education assistance is provided to Veterans in the form of a one-time $750 grant for tuition to Veterans who have exhausted, through use, all of their GI Bill benefits to assist with completing a bachelor’s degree. This grant is paid directly to the institution, or may be reimbursed to Veteran upon verification that tuition has been paid. You may apply for this benefit by accessing the application below and submitting directly to MDVA or applying with assistance through your County Veterans Service Officer.