Michigan Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs

There are several Michigan student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Michigan, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.

These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.

There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Michigan can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to. 

Michigan Student Loan Programs

Michigan stopped offering direct loans to its residents in 2010. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in Michigan. 

If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:

• Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
• College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.

If you're looking for other options, check out our list of where to find the best student loan rates.

Michigan Scholarship Programs

Michigan has several scholarships available to students who are residents of the state.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after will be eligible for more financial aid from the State of Michigan: 

• Up to $2,000 if they attend a career training program in Michigan, per year, up to two years
• Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years
• Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years
• Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university, per year, up to five years

Learn more about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship here.

Michigan Grant Programs

Michigan also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to Michigan residents.

Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.

Children of Veterans Tuition Grant

The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG) was previously called Education of Children of Veterans, Public Act 245 of 1935 and was administered and funded by the Michigan Trust Fund. In 2005, CVTG was established under Public Act 248 to provide an undergraduate tuition program for children of certain deceased or disabled members of the armed forces of the United States.

The maximum award is $11,200.

You can learn more about Children of Veterans Tuition Grant.

Michigan Community College Guarantee

The Michigan Community College Guarantee was established as a replacement/update to the Michigan Tuition Grant in order to provide high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free.

The Michigan Community College Guarantee offers:

• In-district tuition, contact hours, and mandatory fees.
• An additional $1,000 Michigan Achievement Bonus award for Pell-eligible students, which can be used toward additional college costs.

You can learn more about the Michigan Community College Guarantee.

Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant

The Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Act (STG) was established to provide for a waiver of tuition at state public institutions of higher education for children and surviving spouses of Michigan police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Students must be the spouse or the natural or adopted child of a deceased officer or firefighter. Children must be under the age of 21 at the time of the death; and must also apply for the first time before the age of 26.

Learn more about the Police Officer's and Fire FIghter's Survivor Tuition Grant.

Other Options

If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Michigan resident, check out our Michigan Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Michigan residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.

You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.

If you're looking for ways to save for college in Michigan, check out the Michigan 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.

Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.