Minnesota State Mankato secures $1.735 million for TRIO programs
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $1.735 million in funding to the Educational Talent Search program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
This grant covers a five-year cycle that began on September 1, 2025, according to a report from mankato.mnsu.edu.
The funding provides $347,000 annually to support 694 students from sixth through 12th grade across south central Minnesota. This specific grant cycle aims to provide educational guidance, career exploration, and resources to help students succeed after high school.
Educational Talent Search is a Federal TRIO program designed to assist students from low-income or first-generation families. The goal is to help these individuals successfully complete high school and transition into postsecondary education.
Expanding reach across southern Minnesota
The program has been hosted on the Minnesota State Mankato campus since 1985. It currently maintains services at 13 schools in the southern region of the state.
The participating schools include Blue Earth Area, Butterfield-Odin, Fairmont, Madelia, Mankato East, Maple River, Mountain Lake, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, Prairie Winds, Sleepy Eye, Saint James, Truman, and United South Central. This new grant also expands the program’s reach to include Waseca junior and senior high schools.
Minnesota State Mankato is one of only two institutions in Minnesota with Educational Talent Search programs scheduled to receive funding beyond the 2026-2027 academic year. The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth is the other institution to receive such a designation.
A broader commitment to student retention
The university’s involvement in TRIO programming extends beyond the Educational Talent Search. The campus also hosts Upward Bound and Student Support Services, creating a continuous pipeline of support for students at various educational stages.
The Student Support Services program is currently in its second year of a separate five-year grant cycle. This program, which began receiving funding in 1990, was awarded more than $1.99 million by the U.S. Department of Education starting September 1, 2025.
Student Support Services programs were first funded nationally in 1969 as part of the eight federal TRIO programs authorized under the Higher Education Act. These programs were established to foster institutional climates that support the success of historically underserved student populations.
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a comprehensive university with 14,958 students. It operates as part of the Minnesota State system, which encompasses seven universities and 26 colleges.
For those seeking more information on the Educational Talent Search program, Katy Clay serves as the interim director. She can be reached at 507-389-5175 or via email at [email protected]. Margaret Hesser serves as the director for Student Support Services at 507-389-2797 or via email at [email protected].
The Student Support Services program at Minnesota State Mankato originally received its first round of funding in 1990.
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