Minnesota’s new North Star Promise program is a historic leap forward in college affordability. By eliminating tuition for families earning less than $80,000, the program is opening doors for more than 16,700 students in its first year. This progress deserves celebration, but we must acknowledge it as only the beginning.
While the program addresses tuition, students and families face significant financial challenges, including housing, food, transportation and textbooks. Compounding these issues is the lack of transparency in financial aid offers, which are often confusing or misleading.
That’s why Minnesota legislators should follow the lead of Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley in advancing the Understanding the True Cost of College Act. This legislation would require colleges to provide clear, standardized financial aid offers that detail the full cost of attendance, including direct expenses like tuition and housing and indirect costs like books and transportation.
The bill also mandates that financial aid offers disclose whether aid amounts could change in future terms, explain each type of aid (e.g., grants versus loans), and provide the net price students must pay after applying grants. These reforms would empower students and families with the information they need to make informed financial decisions and avoid unexpected costs.
With greater transparency in place, Minnesota can build on this momentum through two critical steps: expanding the program’s reach and improving its messaging.
Why “free college” is the right message
A recent MinnPost article argued that North Star Promise shouldn’t be called “free college” since it doesn’t cover all costs. While technically accurate, this nuance overlooks a vital point: messaging matters. Research consistently shows that clear, aspirational language — such as “free college” — dramatically increases participation rates, ensuring that the students who need the program most know it exists.
A study by the W.E. Upjohn Institute found that framing programs as “free college” reduces psychological barriers for students who might otherwise assume they don’t qualify. This is especially critical for first-generation and low-income students, who are often deterred by the complexity of financial aid systems and unclear communication.
By embracing bold and inclusive language like “free college,” Minnesota can make the program more accessible and aspirational. Clear messaging aligns with the program’s mission: expanding opportunity for all.
The case for expansion
Improved messaging is essential, but addressing the program’s structural limitations is equally critical. The current income cap of $80,000 excludes many middle-income families who are neither wealthy enough to afford college comfortably nor eligible for Pell Grants. As Commissioner Dennis Olson pointed out, these families often face the most significant financial strain.
Raising the income threshold — or introducing a gradual phase-out instead of a hard cutoff — would allow more families to benefit. Additionally, expanding supplemental aid through initiatives like North Star Promise Plus, which offers flexible funds for housing and other living expenses, would help close the affordability gap for students already receiving tuition assistance.
A path forward
North Star Promise has already contributed to a 7.7% enrollment increase across the Minnesota State system, highlighting its transformative potential. However, if Minnesota is to achieve its goal of 70% of adults holding a degree or certificate and meeting Minnesota’s future workforce needs, we must make the program as inclusive and effective as possible.
Calling it “free college” isn’t just savvy marketing — it’s a promise of opportunity. By expanding income eligibility and addressing hidden costs, we can fulfill that promise and ensure every student, regardless of their background, can not only dream of attending college but graduate without the weight of crushing debt.
Minnesota has taken a bold first step. Now, let’s go further to create a future where higher education is truly within reach for all.
Mike Dean is the executive director of North Star Prosperity, a grassroots organization focused on improving higher education and enhancing consumer protections across Minnesota.
