New student portal offers improved applicant experience for Minnesota Dream Act

3/17/2023

 

The new MNAid Student Portal allows users to save application progress, access award notices, and securely upload verification documents

St. Paul, Minn.— A student’s financial aid package is often a deciding factor in whether they are able to enroll in college. And yet, applying for financial aid can seem daunting and complicated for many families. In an effort to ease the process of applying to financial aid, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) has launched MNAid, a new student portal and application process for the Minnesota Dream Act which provides a similar filing experience to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“We want to reduce obstacles and ensure Minnesota Dream Act applicants have a high-quality student experience that is user-friendly and intuitive by investing in technology and tools that can streamline this process from start to finish,” said OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson. “When we eliminate those barriers, we reinforce the message that every Minnesotan who has the desire to earn a credential should be supported to do that, from applying for financial aid to earning their degree.”

MNAid is a secure platform for undocumented Minnesotans to complete their financial aid application, allowing users to log in through a Student Portal and create an account with a username and password. If the applicant does not have a Social Security number, they will be assigned a unique Minnesota Dream Act ID Number (Applicant ID). Students who have previously completed the Minnesota Dream Act application without using a Social Security number should use their Minnesota Dream Act ID, provided by the Office of Higher Education. New, first-time applicants will automatically have an Applicant ID assigned.

The new MNAid Student Portal allows Dream Act applicants to:

• Save progress and return to their Minnesota Dream Act application, eliminating the need to complete the application in one sitting;
• View real-time application status, access past award history and receive award status notifications;
• Access a document tracking screen to view required verification documents, receive document tracking updates, securely upload materials and access saved lifetime documents;
• View eligibility for the Minnesota State Grant at every credit level; and
• Access their federal needs analysis results, which may be used to apply for need-based third-party scholarships.

The 2023-24 Minnesota Dream Act is currently open for students who plan to attend postsecondary institutions this fall. To learn more about eligibility and find a link to the application, visit the OHE website.

A Decade of the Minnesota Dream Act.
The launch of the Dream Act’s improved student experience coincides with its 10-year anniversary. Enacted into state law in July 2013, the Minnesota Dream Act has provided undocumented students with the ability to apply for state financial aid for college and qualify for reduced tuition rates at Minnesota institutions. Over the past decade, 6,500 Minnesota Dream Act applications have been filed and the Office of Higher Education has awarded over $13 million in the Minnesota State Grant.

MNAid Platform Campus and Organization Training. 
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently scheduling workshop sessions with campus partners to demonstrate and train staff members on the Minnesota Dream Act in the MNAid platform. Minnesota institutions and community organizations that are interested in staff training are welcome to contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to schedule a workshop session at meghan.flores@state.mn.us or 651-398-6517.