Michigan Achievement Scholarship (college and university)
MI Student Aid, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP)
Up to $5,500 a year (up to $27,500 over five years) for recent Michigan high school graduates with an SAI of 30,000 or less attending a Michigan university or college.
- How much
- up to $5,500 per year, up to five years (up to $27,500)
- 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, certificate of completion, or equivalency earned in 2023 or later. SAI of 30,000 or less. Full-time undergraduate at an eligible Michigan institution, enrolled within 15 months of high school graduation. Not in default on a federal student loan. No age or GPA requirement.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- US citizen, permanent resident, or approved refugee
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline (MI Student Aid FAQ); file the current-year FAFSA. You must enroll within 15 months of high school graduation.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA each year and list your Michigan college
- There is no separate application
- MI Student Aid determines eligibility and your college's financial aid office awards it
- You can check eligibility in the MiSSG Student Portal
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (michigan.gov), page 2 and page 3
The details
For the Class of 2023 and later. Up to $5,500 per year, for up to five years (up to $27,500 total), at a Michigan public university, a Michigan private college or university, or in a bachelor's degree program at a Michigan community college. Financial need is shown by a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 30,000 or less on the FAFSA; students who received the scholarship in 2023-24 and filed a 2026-27 FAFSA count as meeting the need test for 2026-27 regardless of SAI. Full-time undergraduate enrollment required, starting within 15 months of high school graduation (Class of 2026 spring graduates must enroll by fall 2027). Renewable each year with a new FAFSA, full-time enrollment, continued Michigan residency, SAI of 30,000 or less, and Satisfactory Academic Progress; a student who loses eligibility can regain it. No GPA requirement. The college works out the actual amount based on tuition, cost of attendance and other aid. Two sister pathways are separate records: the Community College Guarantee (mi-community-college-guarantee) and the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship (mi-achievement-skills-scholarship). Some public universities add free-tuition programs for recipients.
More money from Michigan
- 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
- 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.