Military Reintegration — Higher Education

Minnesota State

Minnesota State is 33 state colleges and universities offering you extraordinary educational opportunities and the lowest tuition in Minnesota.

Guide to Your 33 State Colleges and Universities

• Minnesota State has 26 colleges, 7 universities, and 54 campuses.
• We serve 300,000 students each year, with more Black and Indigenous students, as well as students of color, attending our colleges and universities than all other higher education providers in Minnesota combined.
• We offer the lowest tuition in Minnesota, with 62% of our college students and 70% of our university students receiving financial aid.
• We provide 4,023 academic programs, including 893 fully online programs.

Online Courses

Search Thousands of Accredited Online Courses 

Apply Online

Our universal application allows you to apply to one or several of the colleges and universities that are part of Minnesota State. All 26 state colleges have an open admission policy. Policies vary at the 7 state universities.

Request Your Military Transcript

When applying for admission, request that an official copy of your military transcripts be sent to your campus transfer specialist or registrar. The campus will evaluate your military transcript to determine whether or not the credits are applicable to your program. For the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard request your Joint Services Transcript.

Air Force and Space Force – Community College of the Air Force (linked to https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/Display/Article/803247/).

Minnesota State Military-Friendly Policies

Application Fee Waiver
Colleges and universities can waive application fees for active-duty military service members deployed overseas. Many institutions will also waive application fees for veterans; check with your campus of interest for more information.

“Call to active duty” Procedure
Special provisions are available to military personnel called to active duty while attending college. Options include (1) Full refund of tuition; (2) grade of incomplete with the opportunity to complete coursework through independent study or by retaking the course at no charge; or (3) a passing grade if warranted by coursework completed prior to departure.

Deferral Procedure for Tuition, Fees, and Books
Consistent with Minnesota State Statute 197.775, students who are eligible and have applied for but not yet received veterans benefits are exempt from being charged a late fee. The law says: “A state college or university may not assess late fees or other late charges for veterans who are eligible to receive federal or state educational assistance and who have applied for that assistance but not yet received it, nor may they prevent these students from registering for a subsequent term because of outstanding tuition charges that arise from delayed federal or state payments.”

Military Credit for Prior Learning
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will consider prior learning attained in non-credit or experiential settings such as the military. Credit will be awarded for prior learning that is assessed as college-level learning as it applies to your chosen program and degree.

In-state Tuition Rates
Active duty military in Minnesota, veterans, and their spouses and dependent children pay tuition at the Minnesota in-state resident rate.

Transfer Credit
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities consider academic credit earned at accredited public, private, and military colleges and will award transfer credit when courses from the accredited provider apply to your chosen program and degree.