Child Care grant

The Post-Secondary Child Care Grant Program helps low income students who have young children pay for child care while the student attends classes.

Minnesota residents who have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped) and whose family size and income qualify for the program. To qualify, student also must:

• Be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizen.
• Be Minnesota residents.
• Complete a FAFSA.
• Be enrolled for at least six credits per term.
• Not have completed four years of post-secondary education. Students who have withdrawn for active military service after December 31, 2002 are given an extra term of eligibility.
• Not have defaulted on a student loan.

The student must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). Individuals receiving MFIP at this time should contact their County Social Office of Higher Education to get additional information about child care assistance.

The amount of child care assistance depends on:

• The number of people in the student's household.
• The number of day care hours necessary to cover education and work obligations.
• Income of the applicant and spouse.
• The availability of funding.
• The student's enrollment status

The maximum available to a full-time student is $2,300 for each eligible child per academic year. Assistance may cover up to 40 hours of child care per week for each eligible child.