On June 27, 2024, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, including the Michigan Community College Guarantee, a tuition-free skill certificate or associate degree, for recent high school graduates at their local community college.

Graduating high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA. This will cover in-district tuition costs and fees for graduating high school seniors to earn a degree or skill certificate at their local community college. To receive the award, recent Michigan high school graduates must complete the FAFSA, be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year, graduate from a Michigan high school or earn a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after, and enroll full-time in college within 15 months of their high school graduation.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved the fiscal year 2025 $82.5 billion budget on July 23 creating the Community College Guarantee. Michigan will continue to support the Michigan Reconnect free-tuition program for students 21 and up with $52 million. Students with “higher financial need” will receive $1,000 for other costs like food, housing, transportation, and childcare.

The Community College Guarantee could save over 18,000 students around $4,820 annually on tuition. This benefit may be crucial for many students and it will make a big difference for a lot of students’ lives. You can renew your scholarship for up to three years at a community college or Tribal college. “This balanced education budget—my sixth—makes record-breaking investments to support our students, invest in our schools, and empower our educators,” Whitmer said after signing the budget.