The Office of Higher Education (OHE) in the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) assembled a task force of 15 members from across Michigan representing colleges and universities, state government, and advocates, and subject matter experts to explore how insecurity with basic needs is affecting Michigan's college students, how the issues differ across regions and campuses, and what interventions are helping, and ultimately to propose policy change that can support Michigan's college students so that financial insecurity is not a barrier to their pursuit of educational goals, including completion of a degree or credential and support adequate access to needs like housing, food, mental health services, internet connectivity and child care.
In May 2025, the OHE released Barriers to Bridges: Strengthening Michigan Communities by Addressing College Student Basic Need, a report spotlighting 12 priority recommendations that would help the state, institutions of higher education and highly engaged partners to collectively create sustainable solutions to address college student basic needs insecurity and improve the experiences of students faced with these barriers.
These recommendations are undergirded by research into successful work in Michigan and around the country and are broken down in four key themes:
Download the priority recommendations
Among college students in Michigan today: 36% are first-generation students, 30% are adult learners, 38% receive Pell Grants (federal scholarships for low-income students), and 15% have dependent children1.
20%of undergraduates experienced low or very low food security |
7%of students were homeless in the previous 30 days |
44%of students experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months |
52%of students screened positive for anxiety or depression |
1. National Center for Education Statistics. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). U.S. Department of Education, nces.ed.gov/surveys/npsas/
Your local Michigan Works Agency can connect you with career exploration and coaching, tuition assistance, training and much more. Call 800-285-WORKS (9675).
The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University is an action-driven research, policy, and capacity-building center, removing barriers to college student success and well-being.
Works to help families move from crisis to stability and from stability to prosperity.
Explore careers, schools and programs in Michigan to find the path that is right for you.
Michigan Community Action is a member service network dedicated to reducing poverty in Michigan where agencies tailors programs to its unique community, engaging and empowering people who are in need of help.
SNAP E&T provides colleges with a financial reimbursement for providing supportive services to students. This includes laptops, gas cards, housing assistance, textbooks, course fees, and more.
