It's Not Too Late for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Michigan College Access Network is working to improve the futures of Michigan's students and communities by making college accessible to all.

It's Not Too Late for the
Michigan Achievement Scholarship!

In December, the Michigan Department of Treasury and MI Student Aid announced that the Michigan FAFSA priority deadline has been permanently extended to May 1. As you work with students in this crucial time leading up to graduation, it's important to understand what this deadline means.

The Michigan FAFSA priority deadline does not apply to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Created with bipartisan support, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship offers Michigan students up to $27,500 over five years to attend an in-state institution. This scholarship will continue to be awarded to eligible students until funding runs out, which we don't expect to happen. Students need to file a FAFSA to find out if they're eligible, and there is still time to take advantage of this incredible financial aid opportunity.

The priority deadline applies only to the Michigan Competitive Scholarship and the Michigan Tuition Grant. Students who may be eligible for those opportunities should file the FAFSA by May 1, because there is no guarantee the state will award them after that date. There is no FAFSA priority deadline for any other State of Michigan scholarship or grant program.

Many financial aid opportunities, including institutional aid, are FAFSA-dependent and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's always in your students' best interests to file their FAFSA and apply to colleges as soon as possible. However, other financial aid sources, including the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and federal Pell Grants, will be available for much longer, so don't let your students get discouraged if they haven't filed the FAFSA yet.

There is still time to file, and there is still money available!

Michigan FAFSA Tracker

MCAN's Michigan FAFSA Tracker is a valuable tool for monitoring building-level FAFSA completion rates. Schools can view their current FAFSA completion percentage, see completion trends over time, and compare rates to the previous year.

View the Michigan FAFSA Tracker →

Michigan Achievement Scholarship Promotional Toolkit

In partnership with the Department of Treasury, MCAN has developed a campaign and toolkit to help raise awareness around the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Included in the toolkit are printable posters, presentation decks, social graphics, and more. We have also created a website, getMImoney.org, with scholarship details and FAFSA resources in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Please use these materials to share scholarship information with students and their families.

Access the toolkit →

Questions?

If you have questions about the FAFSA priority deadline, the Michigan FAFSA Tracker, or the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, please reach out to Jeneen Hatoum, director of high school innovation.

The Michigan Department of Treasury is not affiliated with National Merit Scholarship Corporation or its registered trademarks National Achievement®, Achievement Scholarship®, or Achievement Scholar®.

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