Michigan’s Free Community College Shuts Out Rural Universities. They Want In.
The four universities say the program would help rural students who face long commutes, while state estimates put the cost at $18 million to $20 million a year.
- Four Michigan public universities—Ferris State University, Northern Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, and Michigan Technological University—are lobbying lawmakers to include their associate degree programs in the Community College Guarantee, which currently covers only two-year colleges.
- Michigan aims for 60% of residents to hold a postsecondary credential by 2030, though about 52% currently do. The Community College Guarantee, part of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, launched in fall 2024 to cover tuition at two-year colleges only.
- In 2024, these four universities awarded 5% of Michigan's 21,353 associate degrees. The state House Fiscal Agency reports that covering tuition for all associate-path students at these four institutions could cost between $18 million and $20 million annually.
- Ferris President Bill Pink argues the scholarship restricts access for students in "community college deserts" and contends expanding to four-year institutions is "critically important" for rural career pathways.
- Expanding the scholarship faces hurdles due to higher university tuition costs compared to community colleges. Supporters argue including four-year schools is strategically important for boosting enrollment and helping Michigan reach its 2030 postsecondary credential goal.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Shoreline Media Group
Michigan’s free community college shuts out rural universities. They want in.
A high school graduate living in the Upper Peninsula may consider enrolling at a community college but the drive across the vast, rural region may stop them: Depending on where they live, it could be a several-hour roundtrip commute.
Michigan’s free community college shuts out rural universities. They want in
Four rural-based universities that offer associate degrees are lobbying for expansion of the Community College Guarantee, the state’s free tuition program. Some say it would be costly. Proponents say it would serve all students, especially those in community college “deserts.”
Michigan’s free community college shuts out rural universities. They want in - Open Campus
Four rural-based universities that offer associate degrees are lobbying for expansion of the Community College Guarantee, the state’s free tuition program. Some say it would be costly. Proponents say it would serve all students, especially those in community college “deserts.”
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