Michigan Achievement Scholarship Community College Guarantee
MI Student Aid, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP)
Tuition-free skill certificate or associate degree at your local Michigan community college for recent high school graduates, no income limit, plus a $1,000 bonus for Pell-eligible students.
- How much
- in-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees (tuition-free); plus a $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus for Pell-eligible students
- Who qualifies
- Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year (for dependent students, the FAFSA contributor(s) must be Michigan residents too). High school diploma or certificate of completion, or equivalency earned in 2023 or later. Full-time undergraduate at a Michigan community college or Tribal college, enrolled within 15 months of high school graduation. No income/SAI requirement; the $1,000 bonus requires Pell eligibility. Not in default on a federal student loan.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- US citizen, permanent resident, or approved refugee
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; file the current-year FAFSA and enroll within 15 months of high school graduation.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA and enroll full time at a Michigan community college or Tribal college
- No separate application
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (michigan.gov) and page 2
The details
Part of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, for the Class of 2023 and later, starting fall 2024. Covers in-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees at a Michigan community college or Tribal college; students who are out-of-district still get a significant discount. Pell-eligible students also get a $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus for other college costs (books, transportation, rent). There is no Student Aid Index or income requirement on this pathway. Full-time enrollment required, starting within 15 months of high school graduation (Class of 2026 spring graduates must enroll by fall 2027). Renewable for up to three years at a community college or Tribal college; students who transfer to a four-year school can keep the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for up to five consecutive years in total.
More money from Michigan
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship (college and university)up to $5,500 per year, up to five years (up to $27,500)
- Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarshipup to $2,000 per year for up to two years
- MI Future Educator Stipendup to $9,600 per student teaching semester (lifetime max two stipends)
- Michigan Reconnectfree in-district tuition, mandatory fees and contact hours at a Michigan community college (last-dollar); out-of-district students get up to the in-district rate
- Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)Phase I: in-district tuition and mandatory fees for a certificate or associate degree; Phase II: up to $500 per semester, up to $2,000 total, toward a bachelor's degree
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.