Anoka-Ramsey Foundation Scholarship FAQs

No. In most cases your scholarship is the first award applied to your tuition bill and occurs typically after the third week of classes. Federal Pell grants, MN State grants, SEOG grants and subsidized and unsubsidized loans are applied after your scholarship monies. 

In most cases your scholarship will directly offset only your tuition bills.

If a scholarship says, “Pell eligible only”, or “demonstrated financial need only” you must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant, SEOG grant, or MN state grant as a part of your FAFSA award. In some cases, a grant or scholarship from an external entity could qualify. If in doubt about your eligibility for designated Pell eligibility or demonstrated financial need scholarships the scholarship director can consult your SAI (Student Aid Index). 

Applications open October 1 to October 31 (for spring semester awards) and April 1 to April 30 (for fall semester awards) yearly. 

Awards occur twice yearly and are announced respectively in December and May of each calendar year. Each semester, you must be registered for the minimum required number of credits identified in your scholarship. Scholarships are distributed at the same time as all other aid. 

Yes. All scholarships at Anoka-Ramsey have a minimum requirement of 6 credits enrolled and a cumulative GPA of 2.0. 

Some scholarships require full-time enrollment, higher grade point averages, or other eligibility criterion. Consulting the Scholarships links in Award Spring will outline all eligibility requirements for each individual scholarship. Financial Aid monitors your enrolled credits and will notify the Foundation in the scenarios of dropping, withdrawing, or falling below credit thresholds.

Yes. In fact, the best advice is to complete your FAFSA early.

The FAFSA is released by December 1 for the next academic year. Completing your FAFSA early may provide you with additional financial aid resources and ensure the ability to use the book charge function in August and January.

Waiting too long to complete your FAFSA could mean important data that may be needed to determine your scholarship eligibility would be missing and that may impact your ability to receive a scholarship.

The Foundation acknowledges the realities of unforeseen circumstances. If you withdraw completely down to zero credits during the semester in which you receive the scholarship, you may be liable for repaying the scholarship funds you received.

If you take a semester off, you will not be eligible for the scholarship during the semester you take off.

You can be co-enrolled but a consortium agreement on file with Financial Aid will be required. Your FAFSA will need to be coded to Anoka-Ramsey (002332) as the aid receiving institution. Consortium agreements can be obtained by meeting with your advisor.

Your FAFSA award needs to be received through Anoka-Ramsey. Consult with your advisor to navigate exception possibilities.

Registration will need to coincide with award timing (at the beginning of each semester) Even in the event you don’t notify the Foundation, Financial Aid generates an “aid apply” list at the beginning of each semester that is supplied to the Foundation. In this event the Foundation will contact you directly to help guide you to your advisors and to complete the necessary compliance documentation.

If it is a Minnesota State institution, yes. All 38 Minnesota State entities communicate with each other through a system called ISRS. Enrollment issues with other institutions will create a “hold” scenario at Anoka-Ramsey where the scholarship will not be disbursed until all issues at Anoka-Ramsey or other institutions are rectified.  

Yes. Provided your credit thresholds align with the requirements of the scholarship, a single semester enrolled will not impact your scholarship if it is awarded in the semester, you are taking classes with Anoka-Ramsey.

No. Because application cycles always apply to the next semester. 

Unfortunately, no. Scholarship monies are designated to pay tuition bills only. Since PSEO students don’t have a tuition bill with the college, thanks to funding from the State of Minnesota, PSEO students don’t qualify for scholarships.

After you apply to the college, you will receive a StarID which will give you access to the scholarship application.

Contact the Foundation office during your application and work closely with our staff to align with funding cycles. A scholarship award will always be the first award to apply to your tuition bill. Special arrangements may be necessary in this scenario. 

Yes. For example if you state on your application that you are full-time but then later due to individual circumstances fall under 12 credits your scholarship will be removed from your aid package, resulting in a new balance due.  Each scholarship awarded is unique due to the donor’s intent. Some require a minimum of 6 credits enrolled, others require 8, or 9, some may state full time (12 credits or more). Any proposed change to your semester credit load should be discussed with your academic advisor, financial aid advisor, and the Foundation to judge impact to your award. 

No. Awards can not transfer into a future semester. The scholarships awarded are approved by the Foundation board and must be distributed in the semester they are awarded.