Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced tuition free in-county community college for 2023 high school graduates in an effort to help reach Michigan’s goal of 60% of the adult population having a college degree or skills certificate by 2030.
Grand Rapids Community College President Charles Lepper believes that this is a great opportunity for students to attend college without having to endure long lasting debt.
“I think it’s an incredible opportunity for recent high school graduates to attend GRCC,” said Lepper. “There is a tremendous opportunity for (students) to save on cost … They can in essence earn their two-year associates degree at no cost and either enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution and not have to worry about accumulating any debt.”
This program will cover tuition and mandatory fees for those who graduated from high school in 2023. In order to receive aid, students must fill out their FAFSA, and are encouraged to still apply for scholarships.
“This is a last dollar program,” Lepper said. “So pell grants, other state and federal assistance scholarships would all be applied first, and this would be any gap funding that is left after the remainder of any of those funds that have already been applied.”
Students will receive an email from GRCC with more information about this initiative from state officials.
Those over the age of 21 are able to attend tuition-free community college through the Michigan Reconnect program. In addition to the age requirement, a student must complete the FAFSA, have been a Michigan resident since July 1, 2023, have a high school diploma or equivalent certification of completion, and no prior college degrees as well as being enrolled in a total of 12 credits between the fall, spring and summer semesters.
For more information on how to get signed up for reconnect, reach out to reconnect@grcc.edu.
