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September 03, 2025
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today announced the recipients of over $600,000 in competitive Barrier Removal: Direct to Students Grants, designed to help students at Michigan’s community colleges, Tribal colleges and universities overcome financial barriers and complete their education. The grants, part of MiLEAP’s broader $45 million Sixty by 30 Student Success Grant program, provide funding to institutions across the state to ensure more students can stay enrolled, earn their degrees or certificates and move into good-paying jobs.
“Every student in Michigan deserves the opportunity to complete their education and build a rewarding career,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The Student Success Grants remove financial barriers, strengthen student supports, and aid colleges and universities as they create clearer pathways to graduation. By investing in students today, we are investing in the future of Michigan’s workforce, economy and communities tomorrow.”
The Student Success Grants are a key part of MiLEAP’s mission to improve outcomes for Michiganders from birth through postsecondary education, helping them gain the skills and credentials needed for high-demand, good-paying jobs in Michigan. The program also supports the state’s goal of increasing the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or degree to 60% by 2030.
Student Success Grants are awarded in multiple rounds, allowing MiLEAP to target resources where they are needed most and support institutions in serving students effectively.
This round focuses on Barrier Removal: Direct to Students, providing emergency funding and other direct aid to students facing financial challenges that could prevent them from completing their education. Institutions receiving these grants demonstrated clear plans to serve students with the greatest need, with final award amounts determined through a funding formula based on the number of Pell-eligible students served. With this round, the program has now awarded more than $7 million Barrier Removal: Direct to Students grants to 39 colleges and universities statewide.
Earlier this year, the Michigan College Student Basic Needs Task Force released a statewide report highlighting how unmet needs—such as food insecurity, housing instability, childcare, and access to technology—continue to be among the greatest barriers to college completion in Michigan. The Barrier Removal grants directly address these findings by helping institutions provide immediate support to students so they can stay enrolled and succeed.
“These Barrier Removal grants represent an important investment in the students of Michigan,” said Sarah Szurpicki, deputy director of the Office of Higher Education. “Each recipient institution has demonstrated a clear plan to remove barriers and support learners where they need it most. By providing targeted support and resources, we are empowering colleges and universities to help more students reach graduation and beyond, helping them ‘make it’ in Michigan and build successful lives.”
Four institutions—Bay College, Lake Michigan College, Montcalm Community College, and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor—were awarded over $600,000 in this round of funding. The grants will expand support for students’ basic needs, including food, housing, transportation, mental health services, childcare, and technology access.
These grants represent MiLEAP’s continued commitment to support students and strengthen higher education across Michigan. Learn more about the Student Success Grants, including a full list of recipients and other Office of Higher Education initiatives at the MiLEAP website.
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