- Can MET students attend any Michigan public university or college?
Yes. MET benefits can be used at any Michigan public university or college
upon the student being admitted to that institution. MET cannot guarantee that
a student will be admitted to any Michigan university or college.
- Must a student use his or her MET contract immediately after high
school graduation?
No. A student has 15 academic years from the expected high school graduation
year to use all credit hours or completely receive a refund.
- What are the mandatory fees?
Mandatory fees are those required to be paid by all students attending a
particular university/college. Application fees, contact hour fees and fees
which are course specific (such as lab fees for science and computer classes,
etc.), or fees assessed based on the number of credit hours enrolled are not
covered. Also, MET does not pay for room and board or books.
- What if my student's major requires more than 120 credit hours?
MET will stop providing benefits under each contract when MET has paid the semesters purchased. If MET pays for courses that are repeated to improve a student's grade point average or for incomplete, failed or withdrawn classes, they will count against the total number of credit hours allowed under the contract. A standard baccalaureate degree usually consists of 120 semester credit hours (or, on average, 30 credit hours each year). MET
does not cover the cost of contact hours (hours spent with the instructor).
- What if my student receives a full scholarship?
If a beneficiary receives a full tuition scholarship he or she may terminate
the contract and the refund designee will receive a refund of the average
tuition (Full Benefits and Community College contracts) or lowest tuition
(Limited Benefits contract). A full scholarship must be equivalent to or
greater than the contract years purchased. For example, the student owns a
2-year contract and is awarded a 2-year scholarship; a 4-year tuition
scholarship; a 2-year community college scholarship; or a 1-year scholarship
renewable for four years.
- What if my student receives a partial or Merit Award Scholarship?
Students who receive partial tuition scholarships, grants, or other types of
tuition assistance (including faculty/employee benefits paid by a public
institution) may not need all of the educational benefits provided under the
MET contract. The institution should invoice MET for all credit hours for
which a student enrolls. Any excess amount should be refunded to the student
by the institution.
- What if my student attends a Michigan independent (private) or
out-of-state college or university?
If a student is admitted to a Michigan independent (private) or out-of-state
college, a refund can be directed to the college. The refund amount will be
based on weighted average, average, or lowest tuition depending on the type of
contract.
- Will MET cover tuition for a student that moves out-of-state after a
contract has been purchased but wants to attend a Michigan public college or
university?
Under the Full and Limited Benefits contracts, MET provides payment of
in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at a Michigan public
university. Each university determines residency requirements. A student who
moves out of the state of Michigan after the contract has been purchased and
still wishes to utilize the tuition benefits may do so. In such cases, if the
university deems the student an out-of-state resident, MET will provide
in-state tuition and mandatory fees and the student will be responsible to pay
the difference between the out-of-state and in-state tuition costs directly to
the university.
- What if a student decides not to attend college?
When a student reaches 18 years of age or receives a high school diploma,
the student has the option of transferring the contract to an immediate family
member or terminating the contract to obtain a refund paid to the refund
designee.
- Who can terminate a MET contract?
Only a student who is at least 18 years of age or has obtained a high school
diploma may terminate a contract. Therefore, neither a parent nor a purchaser
can terminate a MET contract for any reason. The only exception is if the
student has died or is diagnosed as learning disabled, then a person with
legal authority to act on behalf of the student may terminate the contract.
- If my student terminates the contract will there be a lump sum refund?
No. Pursuant to the MET statute, termination refunds are made in four annual
installments for the Full or Limited Benefits contract if terminating to
attend an out-of-state college, receive a full scholarship or not attend
college. If terminating a Community College contract, refunds are made in two
annual installments. A lump sum refund is provided upon death or learning
disability of the beneficiary. See the Termination Refund Provisions chart.
- What provisions can be made if my student terminates the contract for a
refund for any reason and later decides to attend a Michigan public college?
None. The MET contract does not permit the reinstatement of a contract once it
has been terminated and a full or partial refund has been made.
- How does MET pay for future tuition?
The state's experienced money managers at the Department of Treasury
invest the money paid by MET purchasers. Currently those funds are invested in
equities (up to 70%) and bonds. MET uses the funds and investment earnings to
pay MET beneficiaries' tuition costs and mandatory fees.
- Who manages the MET fund investments?
The Department of Treasury, Bureau of Investments, manages MET's investments
and has successfully managed Michigan's $57 billion pension system, which is
the 13th largest public pension system in the nation and the 29th largest
pension system in the world.
- Are MET purchases made with pre-tax or after-tax dollars?
When purchasing a MET contract you are using after-tax dollars. Pre-tax
contributions are usually reserved for 401(k) types of retirement plans.
- Can credit hours be applied to graduate school or advanced programs?
MET contracts are designed to cover undergraduate courses. However, if a
student graduates from college after using the MET contract for undergraduate
studies and has credit hours remaining on his or her MET contract, the
remaining credit hours may be used toward graduate school or an advanced
program at a Michigan public university or college at the undergraduate
tuition rate.
- Can another 529 program be used to purchase a MET contract?
Yes. A rollover form must be submitted to the other 529 program and a check
will be sent to MET.
- Can a MET contract be rolled over to another Section 529 Program?
The beneficiary may rollover MET funds to another 529 program once they reach
age 18 or graduate from high school.
- What if a purchaser dies?
If a purchaser of a lump sum contract dies, the executor of the estate should
submit a copy of the death certificate, last will and testament, and a letter
of authority from probate court. If a purchaser dies without a will, the
executor should contact the MET office. The executor of the estate can add an
appointee to the contract and change the refund designee, if necessary.
However, if the beneficiary is the refund designee, a change is not allowed.
If a purchaser of a monthly purchase contract in payment status dies, the
total monthly purchases received remain with MET until the beneficiary is 18
years old or graduates from high school. The estate may pay the contract in
full or an additional person may purchase another contract.
- What if a purchaser divorces?
Only one person can be named on the Contract Signature Page as a purchaser.
Once the contract is accepted by MET the contract belongs to the beneficiary.
If the purchaser is named as the refund designee, he or she will retain the
right to a refund if the beneficiary decides not to attend college or the
right to change the refund designee, if desired.
- If I submit a monthly purchase contract, when will my monthly purchases
begin?
If a monthly purchase contract is submitted between September 1 and December
31, the first monthly payment will be due February 25. For monthly purchase
contracts submitted between January 1 and April 30, the first monthly payment
will be due May 25. Monthly purchase contracts submitted between May 1 and
August 31, the first monthly payment will be due September 25.
- The beneficiary will not graduate from high school in the expected
academic year as submitted on the Contract Signature Page at the time of
purchase. Can this date be changed?
No. MET contract prices are based on actuarial projections. MET's actuary
projected a probable graduation date based on the beneficiary's age/grade at
time of purchase. The actuary also took into consideration that some
beneficiaries would begin using benefits early and some would begin using
benefits late. Therefore, Section 8 of the MET contract allows a beneficiary
15 academic years from the expected academic year to completely use all
contract benefits or receive a refund.
- Who can access MET contract information?
Only those persons listed on the contract as beneficiary, purchaser, or
appointee will be given contract specific information whether via phone,
written communication, email, online access or any other means of
communication with the MET office. MET will only provide general program
information to all other inquiries.
- How does a MET contract affect a student's eligibility for financial aid?
Effective July 1, 2006, MET contracts will be recognized as a parental asset in determining the student's federal financial aid eligibility. Parents who own contracts for their children will need to report the value of all contracts for all their children as an asset when filing the FAFSA. A worksheet to assist parents determine the value to report is available in the Documents section of the MET website.
- What fees are charged for program administration?
Since MET is administered in-house, only 43 basis points are allocated to
program administration.
- Does the State of Michigan offer any other education savings programs?
Yes. The Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) offers three investment
options to encourage families to save for higher education. Savings may be
used for tuition, fees, room, board, books and equipment required for
enrollment. For more information visit the MESP Web site at
www.misaves.com or call toll free at
1-877-861-MESP.
- Do any other states offer a similar program?
Michigan was the first state to adopt a prepaid tuition program, however, 20
states have adopted similar prepaid programs and 50 states and the District of
Columbia have adopted college savings programs. For more information on states
with similar programs you may call the College Savings Plans Network at
1-877-CSPN-4-YOU (1-877-277-6496) or you may obtain information on the
Internet at www.collegesavings.org.
- Is there a telecommunications device for the speech/hearing impaired?
Telephone help is available through the Michigan Relay Center by calling 1-800-649-3777 or 711.
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