Still time for eligible students to get money for college

Updated: August 19, 2008 - 8:29 PM

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EASY MONEY: The questions from the state of Minnesota are simple: Who wants free money for college? What recent high school graduate would like $1,200?

The Office of Higher Education isn't shouting like a Metrodome vendor, but officials want to make sure that eligible students apply for the new Achieve Scholarship program. The program has funding for about 5,800 students, but at this point only about 1,400 applications have been received.

REQUIREMENTS ARE SIMPLE: The student has to be a graduate of a Minnesota high school and attend a college or university in the state. They had to have taken college prep classes in high school. And they have to be from a family with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000.

"We want to make sure we get every student that's eligible," director Susan Heegaard said. "Our main thing is that with rising tuition that students know about as many financial aid possibilities as they can. That's critical."

$7 MILLION: In an effort to keep high school seniors on track for college -- and prevent them from assembling a schedule of easy classes late in the year -- the state earmarked $7 million for the Achieve program. That will increase to $10 million next year.

Now the state has to find students who need that money. Heegaard, however, said she isn't alarmed about the number of applicants at this point or that money might go unused.

"Like any new program, it takes time to catch on," she said.

MORE INFORMATION on the scholarships -- including eligibility requirements -- can be found at www.getreadyfor college.org/achieve.

JEFF SHELMAN