Michigan’s New ‘Community College Guarantee’: Tuition-Free Access for Recent High School Graduates

Hey Michiganders! There’s some great news for recent high school graduates. This fall, Michigan’s School Aid Budget is including a ‘Community College Guarantee’, which will offer tuition-free access to community college! Wondering how it works and who’s eligible? Let’s break it down.

The ‘Community College Guarantee’ is designed to support students like Alivia Jaros from Canton, an incoming freshman at a local college. When told she’s now entitled to tuition and fee coverage, she reacted with disbelief, saying, “Really?! I had no clue.” She added, “This is huge. This is really huge because I had to pay for my college. So, I’m really happy.”

The guarantee will also benefit students like Marshall Thore, a sophomore currently handling work and studies alike. On hearing the news, he responded positively, “Good! I don’t have to work as overmuch during the school year. I can just focus on my studies and my sports.”

So what does this ‘Community College Guarantee’ actually cover?

Beginning in the fall of 2024, the scholarship will cover tuition and fees for a degree or skills certificate from any in-district community or tribal college. Furthermore, Pell Grant-eligible students can look forward to a $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus award that can be utilized for additional costs.

Okay, sounds great. But who’s eligible?

Eligibility is largely based on a few criteria:

• Must be a Michigan High School graduate – 2023 & beyond
• Must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Must have been a Michigan resident since July 1 of the preceding year
• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or approved refugee
• Must enroll in college full-time within 15 months of graduation

Remember that students will need to select their “in-district” community college as their No. 1 school on the FAFSA. Some of you also enquired -“Can we get reimbursed for what we paid already?” For 2023 and 2024 graduates who’ve already paid their tuition and fees for fall 2024, the answer is, absolutely!

The ‘Community College Guarantee’ was proposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in her 2024 State of the State address and was approved in July. It’s going to be funded through the School Aid Budget saving over 18,000 students up to $4,800 a year.

And this is the kind of change we all want to see, right? Lowering the barriers to higher education so more folks can get a shot at fulfilling their dreams. Way to go, Michigan!