If you’re 25 or older, have had to pause your higher education or haven’t had the opportunity to start, the Michigan Reconnect program could pave the path to a degree or certificate.

Michigan Reconnect allows Michigan residents who are 25 or older and without a college degree to attend community college, such as Schoolcraft College, for free. This program covers the resident tuition rate, fees and more to allow Michiganders to pursue Pell Grant-eligible associate degrees and occupational certificates.

Michiganders without a college degree or training credential often face economic challenges. A 2020 analysis by the American Association of Community Colleges reports the median earnings of full-time employees with a high school degree is $40,510 annually, while those with an associate degree make $50,079 per year, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

To be eligible for Michigan Reconnect, you must:

• Be at least 25 years old when you apply
• Have lived in Michigan for a year or more
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor’s)

Costs Reconnect Covers

Reconnect will ensure that when you get your semester bill from the community college, it will pay toward the following items:

• In-district tuition
• Mandatory fees (fees charged to all students per semester or per hour)
• Excess contact hours (extra charges for certain courses and programs)

Reconnect is a last-dollar program, which means that any Pell grant funds and/or state funds that cover tuition you receive are applied to your tuition and fees bill first, with Reconnect paying what’s not covered by Pell or those state awards. If you don’t qualify for a Pell grant, Reconnect will pay the full cost of resident-rate tuition, mandatory fees and excess contact hours.

To begin the process, complete a Reconnect application at Michigan.gov/Reconnect.

For more information, call the customer care center at 517-636-7000 or email MIStudentAid@michigan.gov.