If you have questions about this program, please contact the staff member listed on this page via email. If a staff member is not listed, please email info.ohe@state.mn.us and provide a detailed description of your question.
The Minnesota Student Teacher Grants (STG) is a financial aid program that aims to support students in becoming teachers in Minnesota by providing postsecondary financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students during the term the student is completing the required 12-week or more student teaching experience in order to attain their initial teaching license.
There are two grants available based on eligibility:
The Minnesota Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant (STSA) is available to eligible students who intend to teach in a license shortage area or rural school district after graduating and receiving their teaching license.
The Minnesota Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant (USTG) is available to eligible students who intend to teach in a license shortage area or rural school district after graduating and receiving their teaching license.
On a funds available basis, selected undergraduate and graduate students may receive awards of up to $7,500 for one term.
In general, applicants must:
Click here to view a full list of PELSB approved teacher preparation programs at each eligible college and university.
A complete application must be submitted to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education during the academic year in which the student is completing the required 12-week or more student teaching experience. A student may only receive the award for the term of their student teaching experience.
Complete applications must include the following:
2023-2024 Application - closes on May 1st, 2024
Click here to apply for the 2023-2024 academic year or contact our office if you need a paper application.
2024-2025 Application - coming soon in June 2024
Priority Application Deadlines for Student Teaching Terms:
Fall 2024: July 26, 2024
Spring 2025: November 8, 2024
Summer 2025: April 18, 2025
All awards are based on funds availability. Applications will still be accepted after the priority deadlines but eligible students awill most likely be placed on the waitlist. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Eligible students with complete applications on file by the priority dates for the specified term will be considered for an award. Applications submitted after the priority deadline will be reviewed based on the order of the completion date. Students will be notified of their application status via email.
If there are insufficient funds to provide an award to all eligible applicants, the applications will be prioritize based on the financial need of an applicant and then based on which program the student qualifies for.
Only licensure areas within the following fields may be identified as a license shortage area for the Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant. Click here to view the full list of the identified License Shortage Areas.
"Rural school district" means a school district with fewer than 30 resident pupil units (under section 126C.05, subdivision 6,) per square mile. Click here to view the full list of the designated Minnesota Rural School Districts.
Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view.