Education resources for women include FAFSA-based federal aid (Pell Grants up to ~$7,000/year), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title IX protections against sex discrimination on campus, and dedicated single-mother scholarships through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards, and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Community colleges offer low-cost two-year degrees and trade certificates, often with CCAMPIS-grant subsidized on-campus childcare. AAUW funds career development grants and fellowships for women. GED and HiSET programs run through state adult education offices, usually free. This directory covers FAFSA offices, community colleges, adult education, and women's scholarships.
Minnesota district courts hear family matters across its 87 counties. The Child Support Enforcement Division operates under DHS. Minneapolis-Saint Paul anchors the state; Rochester, Duluth, and Bloomington follow. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and Violence Free Minnesota (the statewide DV coalition) serve women.
OHE at 1450 Energy Park Dr in St. Paul administers the Minnesota State Grant program, the Minnesota Indian Scholarship, Postsecondary Child Care Grant, and other state-only aid for MN women in college. Call 651-642-0567 weekdays or email info@ohe.state.mn.us to ask which state grants you qualify for in addition to federal aid.
651-642-0567 · 1450 Energy Park Dr Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Minnesota State is the system of 33 colleges and 7 universities including Metro State, MSU Mankato, St. Cloud State, and the 30+ community and technical colleges that serve nontraditional students best. Call 651-201-1800 weekdays to ask about the closest campus offering your program, plus dual-enrollment and PSEO options for high schoolers.
651-201-1800 · Statewide · Varies by campus · Visit Website
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the single gateway to Pell Grants, federal student loans, and work-study — and is also required to receive the Minnesota State Grant. Mothers should complete the FAFSA each year at studentaid.gov, or call 800-433-3243 weekdays for help.
800-433-3243 · Online Application · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
The MN State Grant is the state's largest need-based grant for resident undergraduates, awarded automatically when an MN student completes the FAFSA and enrolls in an eligible MN institution. Call 651-642-0567 weekdays to check expected award amounts and how the state's living-allowance formula factors in for mothers with dependents.
651-642-0567 · 1450 Energy Park Dr Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
The U of M's Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies in 425 Ford Hall on the Minneapolis campus is one of the oldest such programs in the country, offering BA, MA, and PhD tracks plus public lectures open to the community. Call 612-624-6006 weekdays to ask about admissions or audit options.
612-624-6006 · 425 Ford Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
St. Catherine University at 2004 Randolph Ave in St. Paul is the largest women's university in the US, offering undergraduate degrees for women and coed graduate programs. The campus is known for nursing, social work, and education programs designed for working women and mothers. Call 651-690-6000 weekdays for admissions.
651-690-6000 · 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Minnesota ABE provides free GED preparation, high school equivalency, ESL, and college-readiness classes through 250+ sites across the state, coordinated by the MN Department of Education. Call 651-582-8437 weekdays or use the LiteracyMN locator to find the closest program — useful for MN women returning to school after years away.
651-582-8437 · Statewide Locations · Varies by location · Visit Website
College Possible at 1550 Utica Ave S in St. Louis Park is a Twin Cities-founded national program providing intensive college-access coaching for first-generation, low-income MN students. Includes ACT prep, FAFSA help, application support, and ongoing campus mentoring. Call 612-767-3540 weekdays to find a partner high school or campus.
612-767-3540 · 1550 Utica Ave S Suite 610, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Scholarship America is headquartered at 1 Scholarship Way in St. Peter, MN and manages corporate, foundation, and community scholarships for hundreds of programs nationally. MN women can apply through Scholarship America's Dollars for Scholars affiliates in cities across the state. Call 507-931-1682 weekdays to ask about local affiliates.
507-931-1682 · 1 Scholarship Way, St. Peter, MN 56082 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Studentaid.gov is the official federal portal for the FAFSA, federal loan management, IDR application, and PSLF certification — the entry point for every Minnesota student seeking federal aid. Use the parent-friendly tools to compare loan options before borrowing.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Federal Pell Grant of up to $7,395/year (2024-25) is the foundation of federal financial aid for low-income undergraduates, including MN mothers returning to school. Pell does not need to be repaid and stacks with the MN State Grant — together these can fully cover tuition at MN community and technical colleges.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
AAUW awards $6+ million each year in fellowships and grants to women pursuing graduate study, career development, and community projects. Minnesota women applying for an AAUW Career Development Grant or American Fellowship can search the AAUW database and apply directly online.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
P.E.O. International runs five distinct programs to support women's education: STAR Scholarship, Educational Loan Fund, International Peace Scholarship, Program for Continuing Education, and the Scholar Award. Minnesota has active P.E.O. chapters in most cities; applicants typically need a local sponsor.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards provide grants from
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Jeannette Rankin Foundation awards scholarships up to ,000 to low-income women age 35+ pursuing vocational, technical, or undergraduate education. A useful resource for older MN women returning to school at Minnesota State technical colleges or community colleges.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Patsy T. Mink Education Foundation provides educational support awards specifically for low-income mothers pursuing post-secondary education. Awards are modest (,000-$5,000) but unrestricted, making them especially useful for MN mothers covering childcare or transportation costs while in school.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Scholarships.com is a free national scholarship search engine with millions of awards searchable by state, demographic, field, and life situation. Minnesota women can filter for MN-specific awards alongside national scholarships open to women, mothers, and adult learners.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
BigFuture from the College Board offers free college planning tools, a scholarship search, and SAT registration — useful for high school juniors and seniors at MN schools who do not take the ACT (which most MN colleges accept along with the SAT).
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Khan Academy partners with the College Board to offer the only free, personalized SAT prep program. Useful for Minnesota students whose families cannot afford paid test prep, and for adult learners brushing up on math before returning to MN community colleges.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website