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Are you a Michigan high school student planning to attend a university or college in the Great Lakes State, but struggling to afford tuition? A Michigan Achievement Scholarship may be a life-changing financial aid for you.
Funded and offered by the State of Michigan government, it is one of Michigan’s scholarships committed to tackling the educational challenges faced by local students, especially those from low-income families.
Interested in this opportunity? Read on to learn more about it.
What is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship?
As its name suggests, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is an initiative by the Michigan Department of Treasury in assisting Michigan students to pursue their first degrees.
Furthermore, the program materialized on October 11, 2022 upon Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s approval of Public Act 212 of 2022. Specifically, the Public Act was signed to increase access to affordable post-secondary education, leading to the state’s future workforce being more skilled and marketable through various industries.
While it is not a full-ride scholarship, it allows recipients to save up to thousands of dollars on their university or college education. This scholarship will begin for high school students in the class of 2023.
How Do You Know if You Are Eligible?
Fulfill the following Michigan Achievement Scholarship requirements to be eligible:
- Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year, e.g., you are a Michigan resident since July 1, 2021, for the 2023 award period. If you are a dependent student, your parent or guardian must also be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
- Graduate from high school in Michigan in 2023 or after or complete a certificate of high school completion or equivalency certificate in 2023 or after.
- Demonstrate financial need when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by having an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $25,000 or less.
- Enroll full-time at an eligible institution, including Michigan community colleges, tribal colleges, and public or private universities.
- Complete the FAFSA.
- Enroll at an eligible institution within 15 months of high school graduation or earning a high school equivalency certificate.
This scholarship is not eligible for students who are incarcerated or are in default on a federal student loan.
How Do You Count Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
The data you provided on your FAFSA can calculate your EFC. Some factors to consider are household income and the number of family members, including current college students, supported by that income.
Consumer debt, like car loans and credit card bills, would not be considered. Hence, having debt from credit cards, mortgages, or other sources will not boost your chances of getting an EFC figure that is more beneficial. If you are unsure about how to fill out your FAFSA, check out our comprehensive guide here.
Additionally, keep in mind that your EFC may change from year to year because it is based on your income from the most recent year. This is true when the individual in charge of the money becomes suddenly unwell or loses their job.
Calculating the EFC is a rather complex procedure. However, you can rely on tools like the EFC calculator by Finaid to simplify your process.
The EFC number will be located on the top-right of the Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive, either electronically or physically, a few weeks after filing your FAFSA. This same SAR is sent to every school you list as a recipient on your FAFSA.
How Much Money Can You Get from the Scholarship?
High school grads will be qualified for higher state financial help beginning with the class of 2023, up to:
- $2,750 if they attend a community college, per year.
- $5,500 if they attend a public university, per year.
- $4,000 if they attend a private college or university, per year.
How Do I Apply for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship?
The two documents you need are your FAFSA and MiSSG Student Portal account to apply for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. MiSSG Student Portal account creation can only be done three to five days after your FAFSA submission.
To create your account, you will need to provide the following information:
- User name
- First name
- Middle initial
- Last name
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Password
When is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship Due?
Filling out your FAFSA will allow you to apply right away. No additional application is necessary. Also, make sure to register for a user account on the MiSSG Portal to keep tabs on the progress of your scholarship. Applications may be closed at any time.
What’s Next
Besides awarding the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the State of Michigan government also provides the Michigan Competitive Scholarship for Michigan students who are currently pursuing their bachelor’s degree.
However, unlike this program, the latter is based on both need and merit. Check the Michigan Competitive Scholarship requirements here to start your application.
