submitted by farrisr@augsburg.edu
Last year’s investment by state policymakers in college affordability through the North Star Promise left out one-third of low- and middle-income students earning bachelor’s degrees—those who attend private nonprofit colleges like Augsburg.
New legislation authored this year by Sen. Omar Fateh and Rep. Dan Wolgamott would provide financial aid parity for low- and middle-income students at nonprofit colleges. The PROMISE EQUALIZATION SCHOLARSHIP investment of $13.9 million would mirror how much the state is investing through the North Star Promise to support students at the University of Minnesota, restoring financial aid parity for students at nonprofit colleges.
With the new Promise Equalization Scholarship, the State of Minnesota would help make college more affordable and reduce student debt for those students at nonprofit colleges with the most need—just as the North Star Promise Scholarship has done for low- and middle-income students at public and tribal colleges. An estimated 13,000 students would receive an average scholarship of about $1,000, helping low- and middle-income students who currently receive the Minnesota State Grant. Here at Augsburg, about 1,400 undergraduates would benefit from the new scholarship. Because there is a large surplus in the appropriation for the North Star Promise, this can be accomplished without any additional state funding.
The Minnesota Private College Council has put together an easy way to contact your legislators—it only takes a minute.
Ask your state senator and representative to invest in the Promise Equalization Scholarship.