College Knowledge Month features fee waivers, application advice

October is College Knowledge Month in Minnesota, a statewide initiative that promotes higher education access and encourages students to explore their college options.

Sixteen of Minnesota’s colleges and universities that normally charge application fees will also waive them for all students this month, including Eden Prairie’s Hennepin Technical College.

While College Knowledge Month offers special savings, applications to many of Minnesota’s colleges and universities are always free year-round for all students. This includes 17 private four-year colleges, three four-year public universities, and 19 public two-year colleges (see full list below).

Additionally, all of the state’s colleges and universities always waive application fees for qualified low-income students. To see if they qualify for fee waivers, students can ask their high school counselors and college admission staff how to fill out the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Application Fee Waiver or how to complete a self-report.

College Knowledge Month is part of a larger campaign, Minnesota Goes to College, which is a statewide effort to provide graduating high school seniors with the preparation, opportunity, and support needed to apply and enroll in college, especially underrepresented students such as students of color, first-generation students, and low-income students.

The program aligns with the State of Minnesota’s 2025 Attainment Goal, which seeks to increase the percentage of Minnesotans age 25-44 with a postsecondary certificate or degree to 70% by 2025. If achieved, this would represent a 7% increase from 63% in 2023 and a 13-point jump from 57.5% in 2015.

Minnesota Goes to College initiatives also include Minnesota College Goal, the state’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)-completion effort that aligns with the state’s FAFSA Filing Goal. Programs include free Ready, Set, FAFSA! virtual events to help students and families complete the FAFSA.

Tips for college-bound students and families

To make the most of Minnesota’s college application resources, students are encouraged to:

Research schools. Consider various factors like programs, campus culture, demographics, location, and financial aid options to see what would be the best fit for you.

Prepare application materials. To streamline the application process, now is a good time for you to find out how to access your high school transcripts, request letters of recommendation from counselors and teachers if needed, and begin crafting your personal statements if essays are required.

Check application deadlines. Be sure to confirm specific deadlines and requirements for each school as soon as possible.

Leverage available resources. Attend workshops and informational sessions available through Minnesota College Goal, your high school, and any colleges you’re considering, to learn more and improve your application.

Apply for scholarships. Look for scholarship opportunities, including merit aid, financial aid, and workforce development scholarships. High school counselors and college advisors can help give individual advice about this. Eden Prairie High School’s daily bulletins also contain continually updated lists of various scholarship opportunities. Students can also join a Ready, Set, FAFSA! webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. to learn how to search and apply for scholarships, stay organized, and make your application stand out.

Explore North Star Promise. Students from families with an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 may qualify for free tuition at Minnesota State campuses. Learn more about North Star Promise here. Students can also learn more about other options for financial and academic support on the Minnesota State website.

Join virtual Ready, Set, FAFSA! sessions, or watch recordings. Links for past and upcoming sessions are available on the Minnesota Goes to College! website. These cover topics including financial aid, making a FAFSA ID, searching for scholarships, and earning college credit in high school.

Minnesota colleges and universities with free applications in October and year-round

The 16 institutions below normally charge application fees but will waive them during College Knowledge Month, Oct. 1-31, 2024.

Additionally, eligible students may apply to these schools for free all year (beyond October), as well as to the University of Minnesota campuses in the Twin Cities and Duluth. High school counselors and college admission staff can help students complete the fee waiver or self-report during the application process to waive fees.

Private colleges

• Dunwoody College of Technology
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design [Use promo code: MCW2025]

Four-year public universities

• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Minnesota State University Moorhead
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• University of Minnesota, Crookston
• University of Minnesota, Morris [Use promo code: Morris24]
• University of Minnesota, Rochester
• Winona State University

Two-year public colleges

• Alexandria Community & Technical College
• Dakota County Technical College
• Hennepin Technical College [Use promo code: MSM24]
• Inver Hills Community College
• Minneapolis College
• Minnesota North College
• North Hennepin Community College [Use promo code: MSM24]

The institutions below do not charge application fees throughout the year. Fee waivers are not necessary for anyone.

Four-year private colleges

• Augsburg University
• Bethany Lutheran College
• Bethel University
• Carleton College
• College of Saint Benedict
• College of St. Scholastica
• Concordia College, Moorhead
• Concordia University, St. Paul
• Gustavus Adolphus College
• Hamline University
• Macalester College
• Saint John’s University
• Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
• St. Catherine University
• St. Olaf College
• University of Northwestern – St. Paul
• University of St. Thomas

Four-year public universities

• Bemidji State University
• Metropolitan State University
• St. Cloud State University

Two-year public colleges

• Anoka Technical College
• Anoka-Ramsey Community College
• Central Lakes College
• Century College
• Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
• Lake Superior College
• Minnesota State Community & Technical College
• Minnesota State College Southeast
• Minnesota West Community & Technical College
• Normandale Community College
• Northland Community & Technical College
• Northwest Technical College
• Pine Technical & Community College
• Ridgewater College
• Riverland Community College
• Rochester Community & Technical College
• Saint Paul College
• South Central College
• St. Cloud Technical and Community College