Michigan college grants are led by the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which gives recent Michigan high school graduates up to $5,500 a year (up to $27,500 over five years) at a Michigan university, tuition-free community college through the Community College Guarantee, or up to $2,000 a year for career training. You claim it by filing the FAFSA. Michigan also runs the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) for students with a history of Medicaid coverage.
These programs are run by MI Student Aid, part of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). The federal 2027-28 FAFSA opened on September 23, 2026, according to CNBC.
Michigan college grants: the three Achievement Scholarship paths
| Path | What it pays | Income test |
|---|---|---|
| Community College Guarantee | In-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees at your local community college, plus a $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus for Pell-eligible students | None; “no income requirements” |
| Public or private university | Up to $5,500 per year for up to five years, up to $27,500 in total | Need-based criteria apply; see MI Student Aid |
| Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship (career training) | Up to $2,000 per year for up to two years toward an industry-recognized certificate | See MI Student Aid |
Sources: MiLEAP’s Michigan Achievement Scholarship page and Community College Guarantee page. MiLEAP’s university-path details page was not available when this guide was checked, so we have not listed the Student Aid Index limits for the university award; confirm them with MI Student Aid before you rely on an amount.
The Community College Guarantee
MiLEAP says that “all recent Michigan high school graduates are eligible” for the Community College Guarantee, “regardless of family income.” To claim it, according to the Community College Guarantee page, you must:
- Complete the FAFSA
- Have been a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year (for dependent students, your parents too)
- Be a US citizen, permanent resident or approved refugee
- Graduate from high school, or earn a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after
- Enroll full time as an undergraduate
- Enroll within 15 months of high school graduation
The enrollment window is specific. MiLEAP says Class of 2026 spring graduates must enroll by fall semester 2027. The guarantee covers in-district tuition; students at an out-of-district community college “will still receive a significant discount,” and should confirm their residency status with the college.
The university award: up to $5,500 a year
At a Michigan public university, private college or university, or in a four-year degree program at a Michigan community college, those who qualify “could receive up to $27,500,” which MiLEAP describes as “up to $5,500 per year for up to five years,” according to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship page. Students who start at a community college can also transfer: MiLEAP says a student earning a bachelor’s degree can renew for up to five consecutive years, with up to three of those at a community college or Tribal college.
How to apply and renew
- File the 2027-28 FAFSA. MiLEAP says students can earn the community college award “just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA.” Our FAFSA walkthrough covers each section.
- Create a MiSSG Student Portal account to see your state aid and update your college choice.
- Enroll full time within 15 months of graduating from high school.
- Renew every year by completing the FAFSA annually, continuing to live in Michigan, staying enrolled full time, and meeting your college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
MiLEAP also notes that students “are not eligible for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship if they’re in default on a federal student loan.” For how state and college dates fit together, see our FAFSA deadlines guide.
The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
TIP pays tuition for students who had Medicaid coverage when they were younger. According to MiLEAP’s TIP page, you must have had Medicaid coverage “for 24 months within a 36-month period between the ages of nine and high school graduation,” as identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Other requirements include:
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- File a current-year FAFSA
- Finish high school or its equivalent before age 20 (later for some Early/Middle College and special education students)
- Begin using TIP within four years of finishing high school
- Enroll at least half time at a participating college
- Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year
TIP has two phases. Phase I covers tuition in a certificate or associate degree program. Phase II covers students who have a certificate, an associate degree, or 56 transferable semester credits. MiLEAP says students as young as 12 who meet the Medicaid requirement are sent a notice about TIP eligibility, so watch for one.
The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is closing
Older guides still mention the Michigan Competitive Scholarship. According to MiLEAP, it “is no longer available to students who have graduated high school (or its equivalent) in 2023 or greater,” and it “will permanently end September 30, 2029.” Current recipients who still qualify can receive up to $1,500 for the academic year, applied to tuition and mandatory fees, with a FAFSA filed by July 1 each year.
Your 2027-28 timeline
The 2027-28 FAFSA has been open since September 23, 2026. Here is how the rest of the year lines up, using the dates the sources in this guide publish:
- Now: file the FAFSA and create a MiSSG Student Portal account.
- Spring 2027: compare aid offers from Michigan colleges.
- Fall 2027: enroll full time; Class of 2026 graduates must enroll by fall 2027 for the Community College Guarantee.
- Every year: refile the FAFSA to renew.
Common questions
Is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship only for new graduates?
The Achievement Scholarship is designed for recent Michigan high school graduates, starting with the class of 2023, and the Community College Guarantee requires enrollment within 15 months of graduation. Older students should look at TIP if they had Medicaid coverage as children, and ask their college about other state aid.
Can I attend part time?
The Community College Guarantee requires full-time enrollment, and MiLEAP says students who drop below the required level should contact their aid office. TIP requires at least half-time enrollment.
Can I use the scholarship at a private college?
Yes. MiLEAP lists Michigan private colleges and universities among the schools where university-path students can use up to $5,500 a year.
A Michigan checklist
- File the FAFSA every year
- Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year
- Enroll full time within 15 months of high school graduation for the Achievement Scholarship
- Check whether you had Medicaid coverage that makes you TIP-eligible
- Not in default on a federal student loan
Michigan’s awards stack with the federal Pell Grant; Pell-eligible community college students also receive the $1,000 bonus. For housing and other costs, search for local awards with our free scholarship finder, and compare Michigan’s model with other states in our guide to state grants for college.
For the class of 2027, the step that starts everything is the 2027-28 FAFSA. File it, then confirm your award path with MI Student Aid and your college’s financial aid office.