DETROIT (WWJ) – Wayne State University is rolling out a new "guarantee," offering tuition-free college for Michigan families in need.
The Wayne State Guarantee, announced Monday, will provide free tuition for students from families in Michigan with household incomes of $70,000 or less.
The program, funded through a combination of state and federal money, is renewable for up to four years, with an option to apply for a fifth for students on track to graduate.
Coupled with the state’s new Michigan Achievement Scholarship – which provides up to $5,500 per year for up to five years to students attending a Michigan public university – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls it another step toward her goal of increasing the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 50.5% today to 60% by 2030.
Whitmer was on-hand for Monday’s announcement, saying “it’s time” for students to “make sure that you are availing yourself of all the great opportunities.”
“There’s a lot out there now. We’ve made a lot of investments that are long overdue, creating opportunities to level those financial barriers, so we just want to help people make use of this incredible opportunity,” she said.
Whitmer said it’s “really exciting” to see the school taking the next step to eliminate the barrier between low-income families and higher education, noting she hopes other universities and colleges – both public and private – will follow the lead.
WSU President Roy Wilson called the “guarantee” a stepping stone to opportunity.
“We have a bold goal to be the No. 1 research university in the country for social mobility. All Michiganders who qualify will be able to come to Wayne State without out-of-pocket expenses. In other words, free,” Wilson said.
The Wayne State Guarantee will cover the full cost of tuition and standard fees (matriculation, registration, and student service fees). To be eligible in fall 2023, in addition to being a Michigan resident, students must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply to Wayne State by April 1, 2023.
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