MN Legislature Passes Free College Tuition Program

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Senate on Wednesday passed the Democrats' higher education funding bill that includes a groundbreaking free college tuition program.

The House already passed the bill on Tuesday. With Wednesday's party-line vote of 34-30, the bill now heads to Gov. Tim Walz's desk, who is expected to sign it.

The "North Star Promise" program would begin on July 1, 2024, and would cost $117 million in the first year. After that, it would cost $50 million annually, according to Monday's conference committee report.

The program would cover all tuition costs once state and federal financial aid has been applied.

In order to qualify for the free tuition, a student must:

• Be a Minnesota resident with an adjusted gross family income below $80,000
• Be enrolled in at least one credit per semester
• Be in good academic standing
• Not have already earned a bachelor’s degree
• Attend one of the two- or four-year state schools in Minnesota

"Today on the floor, we passed the most transformational Higher Education Budget in the nation," Sen. Omar Fateh, the bill's lead author, said in a statement.

"In this, we provide tuition-free college with the North Star Promise, and provide historic investment for student support and our institutions."

Advocates say the tuition program is needed to alleviate the state's labor shortage and stymie falling enrollment at schools in the Minnesota university system.

Opponents say the measure is a boondoggle for the state.

"If a family earns between $80,000 and $90,000 a year with a student in college, there will be a big financial incentive to stop working," tweeted Rep. Pat Garofalo.

"If you want to make college more affordable, cut administrative staff and boost the existing state grant program. Don’t setup a financial aid cliff that makes some parents stop working."