See how affordable college could be at North Hennepin, starting with low tuition.
Apply for free October 1-31 using promo code: CKM26
What NHCC Actually Costs
No fine print. Here's what tuition and fees cost at NHCC for 2026–27, before any financial aid.
How North Hennepin Compares
NHCC is one of the most affordable ways to start college in Minnesota. Many students take their first two years here, then transfer to a university to finish a bachelor's degree, and save thousands along the way.
Estimate Your Cost by Number of Credits
You're charged by the credit, so taking fewer classes costs less. Most classes are 3 credits.
| Classes per semester | Credits | Tuition & fees per semester |
| 1 class | 3 | $756.04 |
| 2 classes | 6 | $1,512.24 |
| 3 classes | 9 | $2,268.36 |
| 4 classes | 12 | $3,024.48 |
| 5 classes (full-time) | 15 | $3,780.60 |
Books and supplies are extra. Online courses and some programs have added course fees.
Grants and Scholarships Lower the Costs
Grants and scholarships are free money. You don't have to pay them back.
Ways You Can Pay for College
Students often use a combination of resources to help pay for college:
- Grants (money you don't have to pay back)
- Scholarships (money awarded to help cover college costs)
- North Star Promise (free tuition for eligible Minnesota students)
- Student employment (part-time jobs while attending school)
- Payment plans
- Savings or family support
- Student loans (money borrowed and repaid over time)
Completing the FAFSA or Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application helps determine which grants, work-study opportunities and other forms of financial aid are available to you.
How to Make College More Affordable
On top of having lower tuition to start, it's especially important to start at a community college if you're consider getting a bachelor's degree.
You can save thousands of dollars on your bachelor's degree by starting at NHCC at transferring.
Complete the FAFSA or Minnesota Alternative State Financial Aid Application to find out your eligibility for grants, loans, North Star Promise (free college tuition), and work study (jobs on campus).
Find out how to apply for financial aid.
Scholarships give you money for tuition that does not need to be be repaid.
By completing one scholarship application, you're considered for all NHCC's scholarships, which range from $500-$5,000.
NHCC scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic and career goals, community involvement, life experiences and other qualifications, not only grades.
The scholarship application opens during spring semester for the following fall semester.
Work study jobs on campus are a great way to have a flexible schedule and earn money while you're in college.
Apply for financial aid to find out if you're eligible for work study.
NHCC's Career Services can help you find internships related to your field. Internships are good option for earning money while in college, and more importantly, are a great way to gain experience in your field.
- Find out if your employer offers tuition reimbursement.
- If you have previous college credit, find out what transfers in to NHCC.
- If you're a high school student or a parent of a high school student, learn about tuition free college options through PSEO.
- If you're a veteran, learn about your veteran education benefits.
- If you have college-level knowledge and skills, learn about credit for prior learning.
Apply for Free
You can apply for NHCC for free during the month of October using promo code: CKM26
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we are waiving the $20 application fee for the month of October. You can apply for free using promo code: CKM26
Applying to the college does not mean you have to attend NHCC.
By applying for financial aid, you'll automatically be consider for grant, loans, North Star Promise, and other forms of aid.
Applying for financial aid does not mean you have to take loans.
Part-time students may qualify, but the amount and type of aid can depend on eligibility and enrolled credits. Some aid, like work-study, requires at least 6 credits.
Depending on the award and total cost, yes, financial aid covers books and other eligible educational expenses.
Not for everyone. Minnesota's North Star Promise program has covered tuition for some students with family income under $80,000, but its future is uncertain. For the 2026–27 school year, students had to apply for financial aid by June 1, 2026. Filing the FAFSA (or the Minnesota Alternative State Application) is how you're considered for every grant, including North Star Promise, if it continues.
Yes. Many students combine grants, scholarships, earnings, benefits, payment plans and loans.
October is a great time to apply to North Hennepin because you can apply for free during October using promo code: CKM26
Even if you don't plan to attend until next fall, getting your application submitted is the first step and you should do it while it's free.
The sooner you apply for financial aid, the better.
Applying for Financial Aid: if you plan to attend NHCC spring semester, you should apply for financial aid as soon as you can.
If you plan on attending NHCC next summer or fall, apply for NHCC, then watch for emails about when to apply for financial aid.
Have Questions?
Questions about financial aid?
Contact Financial Aid: faid@nhcc.edu
Questions about getting started at NHCC?
Contact Admissions: admission@nhcc.edu
Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with Admissions.