Daniel Sonday worries that a cash-strapped State Grant program could mean that "many kids won't be able to go to college anymore."

Sonday is not one of them.

That's not simply because the College of St. Scholastica senior is about to graduate. Had he not received financial aid from the program as an undergrad, he said, he would have made it work. "Honestly, I'd pay pretty much any amount they want" for an education, Sonday said. "It's a lifetime investment."

But thanks to the aid, paying back his student loan debt won't be taking that lifetime.

Sonday is one of 85,000 low- and middle-income students who got grants through the State Grant program last year. (At St. Scholastica in Duluth, 35 percent of undergrads receive a grant.) The program faces a $41.6 million funding shortfall -- due to dramatic demand. More students are enrolling, and more are qualifying for the aid.

If that funding gap is not filled, next year more than 9,800 public and private college students who would have gotten the grants won't, and those who do get grants will get less. The average award could be cut by almost 17 percent, or $290.

Several legislators doubt they'll be able to add money in this environment. Tom Rukavina -- a DFLer, candidate for governor and chair of the House's Higher Education Committee -- said he's "very disturbed" about the shortfall and intends "to try to find money to replace it."

Sonday, who's from Two Harbors, Minn., hopes he can.

His mother is unable to work full time and his father's job was recently cut to part time. Those circumstances make paying tuition -- not only for him, but, eventually, for two younger brothers -- difficult. He expects to graduate $50,000 in debt.

Receiving aid from the State Grant program meant $4,000 a year less in private loans.

"Had I taken that out in private loans, 20 years from now when I'd have to pay that back, it would be a lot more than that," he said. "It's a big help to have it."

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168