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Minnesota Promised Free College Tuition. Housing and Living Costs Still Loom Large

December 16, 2024 1-minute read
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Minnesota this year has wiped out tuition bills for thousands of students applying to its public colleges. But big costs remain for some families. 

That’s because paying for college requires paying for more than just tuition. North Star Promise, the state’s new free-tuition program for families earning less than $80,000 a year, is advancing in making college less expensive for low- and middle-income families. But it doesn’t mean college is suddenly affordable.  

Eating and sleeping at the state’s public colleges comes with a hefty price tag. At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, on-campus housing and food cost $13,856 a year. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, that rings in at $12,420. There are also other costs, such as transportation and textbooks, which the tuition-only awards don’t cover. 

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