North Star Promise Grant Can Make College Dreams A Reality

The North Star Promise begins this fall semester. It’s a grant program that could make college possible for more students, and it’s poised to make a big difference at Brooklyn Park’s community colleges.

The grant pays for the cost of the tuition for anyone whose family makes under $80,000. Its available for students at any Minnesota public college or university. That includes Hennepin Technical College, North Hennepin Community College and schools in the University of Minnesota system.

At Hennepin Tech, admissions recruiter John Donegan said 1,500 of its students already qualified for the North Star Promise. The semester doesn’t begin until August 26, so there is still time to apply.

“This is actually open to any student that is interested that doesn’t currently have a bachelor’s degree,” Donegan said. “So, it’s expanding that opportunity for those who are just thinking about getting reskilled or retrained, or looking for a different career opportunity.”

Donegan said Hennepin Tech is seeing a higher application and registration rate this year than the past few years. That’s a good thing — he hopes this program will encourage students who aren’t sure if college is in their future.

“It really is going to give them an opportunity to say ‘wait a second, I really shouldn’t be sitting on the sidelines. I need to get these skills to be more employable and increase my income,'” Donegan said.

Earlier this year, CCX spoke with North Hennepin Community College representatives, too. They said that as of May, 2,500 eligible students already applied.

More information about the North Star Promise is available on the state’s website.

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SOURCE: CCX MEDIA