How much the State Grant might change

Just talked to analyst Tricia Grimes at the state Office of Higher Education to see just how last night’s conference committee budget will affect the State Grant.

Her calculations:

It’s a cut of about $8 million to the program, but because it’s spread out among 95,000 students, they won’t take much of a hit — just $19 per head. (The average Minnesota State Grant is about $1,624.)

But some changes to the program, which were brought on by the need to ration the grants, will likely make 230 students ineligible.

About the blogger

Alex Friedrich

afriedrich@mpr.org

Alex Friedrich reports on higher education issues for MPR News. Among the stories he has covered: the fall of the Berlin Wall, aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, 2003 Moscow suicide bombing and 2004 presidential elections in the Republic of Georgia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s in European political economy from the London School of Economics.