Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW)
MI Student Aid, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP)
Free tuition at Michigan public community colleges and universities for enrolled citizens of a federally recognized tribe with 1/4 or more Native American blood quantum who have lived in Michigan 12 months.
- How much
- tuition waiver at Michigan public colleges and universities
- Who qualifies
- Enrolled citizen of a U.S. federally recognized tribe, 1/4 or more Native American blood quantum (certified by the Tribal Enrollment Department)
- Qualify for admission at a Michigan public college or university. Legal Michigan resident for at least 12 consecutive months at the time of application (verified via Secretary of State records or a Tribal ID with a Michigan address issued 12+ months earlier). No enrollment-status, degree-track or GPA limits.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; apply any time once you meet the 12-month residency requirement.
- How to apply
- Complete the MITW application online (MiSSG Student Portal), by phone at 1-888-447-2687, or on the PDF form
- Send it with a copy of your Tribal ID to your Tribal Enrollment Department for certification
- Make sure the certified application reaches MiLEAP for verification
- What you'll need
- state application + membership
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (michigan.gov)
The details
Waives tuition at Michigan public community colleges and public universities, including graduate study (transfers list certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees). The statute does not limit eligibility by full- or part-time status, degree track or academic performance. Once verified by MiLEAP, the waiver can be transferred to another school by contacting MI Student Aid. Authority: Public Act 174 of 1976.
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 Achievement Scholarship Community College Guaranteein-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees (tuition-free); plus a $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus for Pell-eligible students
- 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
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.