How to get free tuition from Michigan colleges and universities

• Some Michigan colleges and universities provide tuition-free guarantees to eligible students
• These programs combine federal, state and school funds to cover costs 
• Students may still have to pay for books, supplies, housing and the like

Many people looking to attend college or university in Michigan can attend school for virtually free.

Several Michigan schools offer tuition-free guarantees that use a combination of federal, state and university funds to pay for tuition. Students may have other costs such as supplies and housing.

The new Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is available to the high school class of 2023 and beyond, prompted several schools to announce tuition-free guarantees. 

How to qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship

The scholarship provides up to $2,750 a year for community college, $4,000 a year for private college and $5,500 a year for public university. 

Related:

• Wayne State, Central Michigan push back deadlines because of FAFSA delay
• How delays in college financial aid offers will affect Michigan students
• 3.0 GPA now guarantees admission to 10 Michigan public universities

Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  in order to qualify for the state scholarship. The information provided on the FAFSA helps schools determine if students qualify for free tuition programs. The FAFSA will determine the Student Aid Index (SAI), which helps determine how much federal financial aid students could receive.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must have an SAI of $30,000 or less and meets other requirements. Qualifying students must also enroll within 15 months of high school graduation and enroll full-time. 

See full requirements here. 

The state also offers the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship which provides up to $2,000 a year to pay for career training from a qualifying career training program.

See full requirements here. 

How to qualify for tuition-free programs at Michigan college and universities

Each school has its own criteria and deadlines for these programs. There are also specific requirements for students to maintain eligibility from year to year. 

Bridge Michigan has compiled a list of tuition-free guarantees for colleges and universities in the state. Here is what to know based on information from each school’s website.

Public Universities

Central Michigan University 

The CMU Tuition Advantage covers the cost of 30 credit hours per academic year. 

The student must be eligible for the federal Pell Grant, and the student’s family adjusted gross income and family assets must be $65,000 or less, as determined by the FAFSA. 

See full requirements here. 

Eastern Michigan University

The Eastern Tuition Advantage covers up to 16 credit hours per semester for up to eight semesters.

The student must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and a household income of less than $60,000 or be eligible for a federal Pell Grant.

See full requirements here.

Ferris State University

The Ferris Pledge covers tuition and required fees for students who meet all of the requirements for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the federal Pell Grant. 

See full requirements here. 

Grand Valley State University

The Grand Valley Pledge covers tuition for students with a family adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less and family assets of $50,000 or less. 

See full requirements here.

Northern Michigan University 

The NMU Tuition Advantage covers tuition and “select mandatory fees” for students who qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the federal Pell Grant. 

See full requirements here.

Oakland University 

The Golden Guarantee covers tuition for students who qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and have a family income of $70,000 or less and assets less than $50,000.

See full requirements here

Saginaw Valley State University

The Cardinal Commitment covers tuition for students for up to four years. Qualifying students must have a combined student and family adjusted gross annual income of $70,000 or less and total assets of less than $50,000.

See full requirements here. 

University of Michigan 

The Go Blue Guarantee covers tuition for in-state students with family incomes of $75,000 or less and assets less than $75,000. 

See full requirements here. 

University of Michigan-Dearborn

The Go Blue Guarantee covers in-state tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters. Students must have an incoming 3.5 grade point average who have a family income of $75,000 or less and assets less than $50,000. 

See full requirements here. 

University of Michigan-Flint

The Go Blue Guarantee covers in-state tuition for up to eight semesters for students with an incoming 3.5 grade point average who have a family income of $65,000 or less and assets less than $50,000. 

See full requirements here. 

Michigan State University 

The Spartan Tuition Advantage covers the full-tuition for in-state students who are eligible for the Pell Grant and have a household income of $65,000 or less. 

See full requirements here.

Wayne State University

The Wayne State Guarantee covers tuition and standard fees for students who are eligible for the Pell Grant and most who have a household income of $70,000 or less and assets of $50,000 or less. 

See full requirements here. 

Western Michigan University

The Bronco Promise covers tuition for up to five years for first-year students who have a family adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less and net assets below $50,000. 

See full requirements here. 

Community colleges

Some students may qualify for free tuition and fees based on where they live or attend high school. Michigan has “promise zones” where students’ tuition and fees are covered to earn an associate degree. 

Communities can also elect to cover the costs for a student to earn a bachelor degree. Community colleges charge lower tuition rates for students who live within a geographic area that pays local taxes to support the college. These students are considered “in-district.” 

Students 21 and older can attend their local community college tuition-free as part of the Michigan Reconnect program. See full requirements here.

Attending a community college can help students avoid having to pay housing costs.

Lake Michigan College

The Red Hawk Futures Scholarship is available for the high school class of 2024 and covers tuition and fees for students who enroll full-time in fall of 2024.

See full requirements here. 

Macomb Community College

The Macomb Tuition Advantage pays for tuition and fees. Students must have an annual family income of $70,000 or less and $50,000 or less in assets. 

See full requirements here. 

Private colleges

Albion College

The Albion College Promise covers remaining tuition for qualifying students whose families make under $55,000 a year.

See full requirements here. 

Aquinas College

The Aquinas Assurance covers full tuition and fees for students who are eligible for the full Michigan Achievement Scholarship, full Michigan Tuition Grant and maximum Pell Grant.

See full requirements here.

Baker College

The BeFree Tuition Guarantee covers base tuition costs for qualifying students who qualify for the maximum Pell Grant. 

See full requirements here. 

Cleary University 

The Cougar Country Promise covers tuition for students who qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and have a zero or negative Student Aid Index, determined by the FAFSA. A Student Aid Index is a number that schools use to determine how much federal aid students could receive.

See full requirements here. 

Cornerstone University

The Cornerstone Commitment Grant covers tuition costs for students who receive a Pell Grant, the Michigan Tuition Grant and the maximum award for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

See full requirements here. 

The University of Olivet

The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE Scholarship covers tuition costs for students who qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the federal Pell Grant. 

See full requirements here. 

Siena Heights University

The Brain Gain Promise covers full tuition for students who are Lenawee County residents or graduate from a Lenawee County high school. They must have a total household income less than $65,000.

See full requirements here.

Spring Arbor University 

The SAU Cougar Commitment covers full-time tuition and fees for students who qualify for the full Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the full Michigan Tuition Grant and the maximum federal Pell Grant. 

See full requirements here.  

University of Detroit Mercy 

The Titan Edge covers full-time tuition costs for students who qualify for the full Michigan Achievement Scholarship, full Michigan Tuition Grant and the maximum federal Pell Grant.  They must have a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

See full requirements here.