Achieve Scholarship Program

The Achieve Scholarship Program is designed to address two critical barriers to college attendance: lack of academic preparation and financial access. High school graduates who complete any one of four sets of courses defined as rigorous earn a one-time scholarship of $1,200 to help pay for college. The Achieve Scholarship is available to students who graduate after January 1, 2008. To be eligible, a student must:

• Have a parental adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year during which the scholarship is requested (this limit also applies to the adjusted gross income reported for independent students)
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Be a Minnesota resident attending Minnesota college
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Attend an eligible public or private postsecondary institution in Minnesota
• Apply for the scholarship no later than 30 days after the term starts
• Successfully complete the first term of college enrollment in order to receive the second $600 installment of the Achieve Scholarship
• Complete one of the four sets of rigorous programs of study while in high school or in a home-school setting

The Priority deadline to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the University of Minnesota, Morris to the federal processor is March 1.

The Achieve Scholarship must be used within four years of high school graduation. Students must be enrolled for at least 12 credits.

How to apply for the Achieve Scholarship

1. Students must first graduate from high school
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
3. Download and complete the Achieve Scholarship Application
4. Submit the application to the Office of Higher Education along with an official high school transcript

For more information, visit the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.