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House Research home > Minnesota Government in Brief > Government Functions and Services: Education

Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE)

Governance and Responsibilities

• Director appointed by governor
• Administers student aid programs and agreements
• Registers and licenses private institutions
• Collects and maintains enrollment and aid data
• Provides information to students and families
• Provides support for technology and library programs

Private Postsecondary Institutions

Registration: A postsecondary school operating in Minnesota must register annually with OHE if it is a nonprofit, private institution that grants baccalaureate or higher degrees, or an institution with "academy," "college," "institute," or "university" in its name. Out-of-state public institutions must register if they offer courses or programs in Minnesota.

Licensing: Most for-profit, private career schools must be licensed by OHE to offer programs in Minnesota below the baccalaureate level.

Minnesota State Grant Program

Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate Minnesota residents based on financial need, the price of postsecondary education, and available appropriations. In the grant program, parents, students, and taxpayers share responsibility for the cost of postsecondary education. The state grant covers all or a portion of the price of postsecondary education after deducting the federal Pell grant and the student and family share.

Student Financing for Higher Education

$2,763 million for fiscal year 2009

 

	Loans (millions)	Grants (millions)	Work Study (millions)
1999	$525	$470	$34
2001	529	606	36
2003	844	687	24
2005	1,049	782	39
2007	1,220	864	39
2009	1,654	1,071	38

Related link:

• Legislative Reference Library Links to the World: Higher Education

Originally published January 2011.