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The state of Michigan administers multiple financial aid programs for high school graduates entering community college, university and trade school. Like other states, Michigan is impacted by economic challenges that have reduced funding for some student aid programs. Despite cutbacks, grants and other funding opportunities are still available for qualified Michigan students.
For more information visit Michigan Student Aid
Michigan Tuition Incentive Program
The Michigan Tuition Incentive Program or TIP is designed to encourage individuals to complete high school. The program requires that eligible students qualify for 24 months of Medicaid coverage. The Michigan Student Scholarships and Grants, also known as SSG, distributes notifications to eligible state students. Financially needy applicants are targeted, so FAFSA results are required. The program was founded in 1987, and in 2011 assisted more than sixteen-thousand students, with over thirty-five million dollars worth of tuition relief. In 2013 they administered $94,552,160 to assist Michigan students with post-secondary educational expenses.
Benefits Of Tuition Incentive Program Phase I
Phase I of the Tuition Incentive Program requires student-applicants to enter college within four years of their high school graduations. Phase I of the program covers tuition and mandatory fees associated with associate's degree and certificate-granting programs. Certificate programs qualify when they are at least one year in duration, and lead to certificates in recognized vocations.
Benefits Of Tuition Incentive Program Phase II
Phase II provides tuition assistance valued at up to $2,000, to be applied to completion of a four year degree. Awards are reserved for tuition payments only. Incentives are disbursed in $500 increments, at the beginning of each semester. In addition to general eligibility requirements for Phase I, students participating in Phase II must meet additional standards. Phase II candidates require 56 transferable academic semester credits, at the time of application. An associate's degree or certificate is also required, in order to continue into the second phase of the Incentive Program.
Michigan Competitive Scholarship
The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is a financial aid program that addresses each applicant's financial need, but also recognizes academic merit, during the awards process. The Michigan Merit Award has been discontinued, so the Competitive Scholarship gives high school seniors incentive to perform, scholastically. The program carries the following eligibility requirements:
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Undergraduate schooling
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First college degree
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Approved, participating Michigan institutions of higher education
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Financial need
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Academic Merit
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Qualifying ACT score
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Enroll at least half time in an eligible public or private institution
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Resident of Michigan
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Cannot be used for theology studies
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FAFSA filed timely