Scholarships from the Minnesota Private College Fund
The following scholarship programs are managed and administered by the Minnesota Private College Fund (the Fund) for students studying at Minnesota's private colleges and universities.
Most scholarships are awarded through campus financial aid offices, however students can apply directly to us for the Program scholarships administered by the Fund: Phillips Scholars Program and the Urban Education Summer Scholars Program.
While a number of the scholarships are tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of our donors, all focus on increasing access to higher education for qualified students with demonstrated financial need. Most of the Fund's scholarship programs are administered without cost to the donor.
Scholarships*
(financial aid officers determine scholarship awards)
*All scholarship recipients must demonstrate financial need and academic promise (2.0+ GPA)
- Access & Equity Scholarships
awarded to students of color, new Americans and first generation students - Buuck Family Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students from Minnesota who are juniors and seniors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher - Cargill Access & Equity Scholarship
awarded to emerging Diversity Scholars — students of color, first-generation or New-American; select freshmen and sophomores - Cargill Diversity Scholarships
awarded to U.S. citizens and residents who have overcome barriers to pursue a college degree - Cargill Galileo Scholarships
awarded to emerging Diversity Scholars — students studying STEM disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; select freshmen and sophomores - Carlson Family Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students who serve as tutor/mentors to students in grades K-12 (25 hours each semester); progress report due October 15 - Galileo Scholarships
awarded to students who are studying the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics - B.C. Gamble and P.W. Skogmo Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students from Minnesota with an income under $30,000 annually or Pell eligible - Graco Foundation Scholarship
awarded to students from Minnesota and have a 3.0+ GPA. - Medtronic Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students from Minnesota with a 3.0+ GPA and a major in science, math or computer - Meslow First Generation Scholarships
awarded to first generation students who are involved in the community; report due on October 15 - Minnesota Scholars Fund Scholarships
awarded to students who are Minnesota natives - Phillips Scholars Program
support the development and implementation of a self-designed service project to address unmet needs in Minnesota communities; application; application and reports are required - Rahr Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students who are Minnesota natives - Securian Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students who have a 3.0+ GPA and are majoring in business, economics, math, MIS or computer science - Tennant Foundation Diversity Scholarships
awarded to students of color - Urban Education Summer Scholars Program
Travelers Foundation supports students of color who are committed to pursuing a teaching career in a Twin Cities urban school; application and reports are required - UPS Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students of color - US Bancorp Foundation Scholarships
awarded to students of color from donor-determined states - Wenger Foundation Scholarships
awarded to juniors and seniors from Minnesota majoring in music education - Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota Scholarships
awarded to low-income juniors and seniors from Minnesota with a business major - Xcel Energy Foundation Scholarships
awarded to juniors and seniors from Minnesota studying math, science, engineering and environmental science
- Augsburg College
- Bethany Lutheran College
- Bethel University
- Carleton College
- College of Saint Benedict
- College of St. Catherine
- College of St. Scholastica
- Concordia College (Moorhead)
- Concordia University (St. Paul)
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- Hamline University
- Macalester College
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Saint John's University
- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
- St. Olaf College
- University of St. Thomas
Augsburg College
- Located in Minneapolis with abundant opportunities to gain experience both inside and outside the classroom.
- National recognition for an effective first-year program and for combining learning with service.
- Top majors are business, science, teaching
- A diverse community of 3,000 students
Bethany Lutheran College
- Located in Mankato overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
- A community of 540 students -- most live on campus
- Popular majors include business administration, communication, psychology, and elementary education
- Focus is on a solid, Christian education
Bethel University
- Located on a residential, wooded campus in a Twin Cities suburb
- Enrolls 5,600 students in 100 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs
- Integrates faith, learning and the translation of Christian belief into global service
- 20 international programs; top 3 percent ranking of students who study in foreign countries
Carleton College
- Residential campus in the small community of Northfield
- Ranked one of the country's top liberal arts colleges
- Noted for its bright and talented students and strong faculty
- Enrollment of 2,000 students of diverse backgrounds
College of Saint Benedict
- Together with Saint John's -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
- Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud
- A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
- A commitment to experiential learning, research and internships
College of St. Catherine
- Largest and most comprehensive Catholic college for women in the U.S.
- Beautiful campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis
- Committed to meeting the educational needs of women of all ages; offers liberal arts, healthcare and professional programs in traditional and weekend formats
- Serves 5,000 students
College of St. Scholastica
- Main campus in Duluth; also in St. Paul, St. Cloud, Brainerd
- Undergraduate and graduate programs in traditional, accelerated and online formats
- Top majors: Health information management, management, education, nursing
- 3,200 students; 1,940 undergraduates on Duluth campus
- U.S. News ranking in top tier of Midwestern universities
Concordia College
- Located in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area that includes 20,000+ college students
- Serves more than 2,700 students
- Top programs include the sciences, education and music
- Recipient of NAFSA Simon Award for Campus Internationalization
- Home of world-renowned Concordia Language Villages
Concordia University
- Located in the St. Paul metro area
- Serves 1,500 undergraduate and 300 graduate students of all ages and backgrounds
- Top majors include Christian education, business and teacher education
- A laptop university with 24/7 Web access
Gustavus Adolphus College
- Oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota; Swedish heritage; home of the Nobel Conference
- Beautiful residential campus located in St. Peter, overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
- Prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service and lifelong learning
- Recognized science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs
Hamline University
- Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive universities according to U.S. News
- 4,400 undergraduate, graduate, and law students
- Located in residential neighborhood of St. Paul
- Intimate environment of small classes and personal attention along with the opportunities of a comprehensive university
Macalester College
- 1,900 undergraduates come from every state and 90 countries
- Located in a friendly St. Paul neighborhood
- Emphasis on global perspectives; more than half study abroad
- Produced many Fulbright and Rhodes scholars
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- 700 students; 14 majors in fine arts, media and design
- Located next to the Children's Theater and Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- Studio-based and business-oriented programs; BFA, BS and MFA degrees
- Only art and design school to be named a Best Midwestern College by Princeton Review
Saint John's University
- Together with Saint Benedict -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
- Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud.
- A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
- A commitment to experiential learning, research, internships
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
- Values-based, results-oriented education in the Catholic, Lasallian tradition
- Outstanding environment for learning, living and recreation
- 400-acre Winona campus in the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley
- 1,300 traditional undergraduates, with 4,100 graduate and professional students at other locations
St. Olaf College
- Environmentally aware, 300-acre residential campus in historic Northfield
- 3,000 students; top majors are music, mathematics and the sciences
- Nation's top liberal arts college for study abroad
- College of the Lutheran church -- where conversations about faith are part of daily life
University of St. Thomas
- Minnesota's largest private university with 10,500 students (5,500 undergraduates)
- 95 undergraduate majors
- Main campuses located in a stately St. Paul neighborhood and in downtown Minneapolis (other campuses in Owatonna, Minn. and Rome, Italy)