Free, reduced tuition program expanded to all U of M campuses

The University of Minnesota will offer free or reduced tuition to many Native American students attending its five campuses starting next fall.

The cost waiver program had previously been offered only at the Morris campus, but now will be expanded to all five campuses, to also include Duluth, Rochester, Crookston and the Twin Cities.

Starting in fall 2022, incoming freshmen and tribal college transfer students who are enrolled members of one of Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribal nations will be eligible for free or reduced tuition, depending on their family income level.

"For 170 years, our University has focused attentively on the needs of all Minnesotans," University President Joan Gabel said in a statement. "We are taking a positive step forward in addressing the needs of indigenous peoples with a history that predates this state and institution—a step I sincerely hope will have a lasting impact on Tribal communities. We have been very honest from my first days as president that we need to better serve citizens of our Tribal Nations and their communities. This program is a meaningful step to increasing access and continuing to improve retention and graduation rates while closing opportunity gaps, all of which aligns with our mission and our systemwide strategic plan."

Specifically, the program will offer scholarships covering full university tuition for eligible students with an annual family income under $75,000. Students from higher-earning families (those earning up to $250,000 per year) will be eligible to receive discounted tuition through the program.

They can’t transfer from other private or public colleges in the state.

Learn more about the program here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.