• Graduate from high school in Minnesota
• Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative unweighted GPA, 3.5 preferred
• Enroll at a MnACC member institution in fall 2026

CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS

• Must have graduated from a Minnesota high school in the Spring 2025 or earlier
• Have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Must be currently enrolled full-time at a MnACC Member Institution
• Must be graduating from a MnACC 4-year college or university in or after Spring 2027 or
• If currently attending a community college, you have completed at least one year as a full time student or
• If currently attending a community college, has intentions of transferring to a 4-year public or private MnACC member institution.

In addition the application form, applicants must submit:

• 2 Short Answer Essays
• Unofficial transcript(s)
• Resume
• One letter of recommendation

Create a clearly written essay addressing one of the following questions. Consideration will be given to both your interaction with the topic and the way in which you present it. Minimum word count - 350 | Maximum word count - 500 (or 3,000 characters)

Leadership & Community Engagement: MnACC scholarship rewards students who have demonstrated a dedication to personal growth during their time in high school and college. How has your involvement in your community activities, educational experiences, life experiences, and/or work experiences contributed to your personal growth?

Mission: MnACC’s mission is to improve access to higher education for Minnesota's students of color or whose communities have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. How have various aspects of your background or identity (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, first-generation status, etc.) contributed to who you are today and your pursuit of a college education and beyond?

In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, MnACC scholarship applications are evaluated for the following characteristics:

• Written Reflections: How well does the student answer the question and with what level of purpose and clarity? How well does the student utilize the structure and organization of their essay to enhance their narrative? How well does the student employ writing mechanics in their essay?
• Academic Rigor and Performance: What curriculum has the student pursued? How have they performed in their context?
• Community Engagement: How is the student involved within extracurriculars, community activities, family responsibilities, and/or employment?
• Letters of Recommendation: How has the student contributed in the classroom and/or their community? How has the student demonstrated leadership and/or community engagement?

• All recipients must verify their enrollment at a MnACC membership institution by providing their student ID number and fall course schedule between July 1 and August 31.
• Scholarships are dispersed as a one-time award in the fall semester.
• Funds are sent directly to the enrolled institution to be applied towards the recipient’s student account and are subject to the institution’s outside scholarship awarding policies.
• Previous recipients are eligible to reapply for another MnACC scholarship in which they meet the eligibility criteria.
• Recipients agree to use of likeness in MnACC promotional materials, including social media and the MnACC website.