MN Child Care Grant – Now Taking Additional Applications for 2025-2026 Year

We are pleased to announce we have additional funds available in the Postsecondary Child Care Grant program. We are inviting students to submit their applications for Fall 2025 semester through Summer 2026 semester.

We will evaluate applications as they come in for awards until or allocation runs out, at which point, students may be placed on the waiting list should additional funds be allocated to Saint Mary’s for the 2025-2026 year.

 

Please review all the program requirements and exclusions below prior to submitting your completed application.  

 

Who is Eligible

Minnesota residents who have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped) and whose family size and income qualify for the program. To qualify, students also must:

• Be Minnesota residents.
• Be enrolled 1-12 credits or more per term (undergraduates) or 1-6 credits or more per term (graduates).
• Have not received child care grant funds for a period of ten semesters or the equivalent.
• Not have defaulted on a student loan.
• The student must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).
• Child(ren) must be actively in care prior to submitting application and parent must have suitable means to pay for child care aside from the grant program.
• Saint Mary’s students in the following programs are not eligible to apply:
  • Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Educator
  • Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Leadership
  • Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology

Summary of Application Process:

1. If you meet the qualifications, you can complete the application on the MNAID Website
2. Print the completed application and have your child care provider fully complete their section/s.
3. Once your child care provider has completed their section/s, submit your form to the financial aid office via one of the following methods, where it will be placed in queue for review:
   1. Drop off on campus at:   Student Central or Cardinal Central
   2. Email all pages in full to the Financial Aid Office: financialaid@smumn.edu
   3. Mail to Campus:Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

      ATTENTION: Financial Aid Office

      2500 Park Ave S

      Minneapolis, MN 55404

   4. The Financial Aid Office will be in contact with your provider to conduct a verification of your application. **Let your provider know we will be contacting them and you approve Saint Mary’s to speak to them about your child(ren)’s care.**
   5. If verified, an award calculation will be conducted. Awards will be placed on accounts when normal financial aid disbursements are processed.
   6. All applicants will receive an email with either an approval, denial, or waitlist notification.
   7. A refund specifically for the MN Child Care will be issued to you to allocate (pay) to your child care provider. Here is info on Direct Deposit.

How to Apply

Eligible students should complete the Postsecondary Child Care Grant application below.

Students also must complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application.

Apply Online Now: Postsecondary Child Care Grant Student Application

Instructions Guide: Creating a MNAid Student Portal Account/Applying for Postsecondary Child Care Grant

Review the MN Child Care Grant FAQs for common questions and guidance.

 

If you have additional questions, please email the Financial Aid Office directly at financialaid@smumn.edu