Minnesota Students Eligible for New Scholarship
Achieve Scholarship Offers Tuition Assistance
Feb 14, 2009
The Achieve Scholarship is a new program to reward Minnesota students for taking a challenging high school curriculum. Students that meet the criteria will be provided a one time $1200 scholarship to use at most Minnesota post-secondary institutions.
Premise of the Achieve Scholarship
Students who complete a rigorous high school curriculum are more prepared for college than those who do not. Certain high school courses lay the foundation to success in completing college courses and thus completing college. This scholarship knowledges students who complete specific courses with a scholarship to be applied at a Minnesota college.
Eligibility to Receive the Achieve Scholarship
There are six primary requirements to receive this scholarship:
- Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be a resident of Minnesota
- Graduate from a Minnesota high school
- Complete the FAFSA form
- Have a family adjusted gross income of less than $75,000
- Complete a rigorous high school curriculum
Defined Rigorous High School Curriculum
Most colleges require applicants to complete a minimum number of required high school courses. This practice is to ensure that the incoming student has had a minimum level of exposure to knowledge and can complete the rigor at a college level. The Achieve Scholarship Program permits students to complete at least one of four defined rigorous high school study categories.
- Successful complete coursework defined under the State Scholars Initiative
- Successful test at a three of better on two or more Advanced Placement or four or better on two or more International Baccalaueate exams
- Successful completion of Minnesota Coursework Requirements
- Successful completion of six specific college credits under the Minnesota Post-Secondary Enrollment Option
Minnesota Coursework Requirements Defined
Most Minnesota students will complete the Minnesota Coursework section for the Achieve Scholarship. The following are the courses covered under this section:
- Four years of English/Language Arts
- Three years of specific math
- Three years of laboratory sciences
- Three years of social studies
- Two years of the same world language
How to Apply for the Achieve Scholarship
Students interested in applying for this award can access information on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. Eligibility requirements and directions can be access on this site. NOTE: This scholarship is only for Minnesota Students.
With the higher costs of college tuition, families need more financial assistance. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers a scholarship that most Minnesota students can receive. The award encourages students to take a rigorous high school curriculum and rewards their efforts to pursue further education. While the scholarship will not cover full tuition, it can help offset the costs on books and fees.
