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Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Yes, institutions can retroactively award Michigan Achievement Scholarship during the active academic year. For example, if a student becomes eligible for Fall in the following Summer semester/term, they can be awarded, so long as the final payment deadline for the academic year has not passed.
  • Yes, if the student is deemed independent, institutions should only use the student’s residency status.

  • Yes, consortium students are eligible to receive the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. The home institution will determine the award amount using their semester program limits highlighted in our Packaging Order Guidance.

  • Yes, students must meet all eligibility requirements for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the following:

      • Credits earned at the student’s institution will be transferred and applied to a certificate or degree at their home institution, and
      • They are currently enrolled in a degree-granting or certification program at their home institution, and
      • Be an approved Guest Student as determined by the institution, and 
      • Be enrolled full-time at their guest institution
  • Home-schooled students may be eligible if the institution accepts the home-school documents as proof of high school completion. For Michigan Achievement Scholarship, if the institution accepts the home-school documents as proof of high school completion and the student meets all other eligibility requirements, they will be eligible for the award.
  • The Michigan Achievement Scholarship does not restrict what classes a student can enroll in. Students are limited to receiving the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for 5 years total. Courses outside of the degree program may count towards the enrollment requirement and covered costs.
  • No, the Community College Guarantee will exist in MiSSG as part of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
  • Students who are engaged in a consortium agreement or concurrent program of study can receive Michigan Achievement Scholarship, however they may only receive funds at their home institution.
  • In order to renew the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a student must complete a current year FAFSA, have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $30,000 or less, be enrolled full-time, continue to be a Michigan resident, not be in default on a Federal student loan, and meet the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.
    • Students who received the Michigan Achievement Scholarship in Academic Year 2023-24, and have completed a 2024-25 FAFSA, shall be considered meeting the financial need component of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for Academic Year 2024-25 regardless of their SAI. Received is defined as:
    • A student receiving payment of Michigan Achievement Scholarship, or
    • A student who met all eligibility criteria and was certified as exceeds Cost of Attendance (COA)
    • A student does not have to receive the Michigan Achievement Scholarship every academic year in order to receive it in a subsequent year, as long as it is within the five academic years once their first Michigan Achievement Scholarship payment is received, and they continue to be eligible.  A student that is considered eligible and receives a payment within the 15-month timeframe after graduation (or equivalent) can float in and out of eligibility.
  • MiSSG will complete an initial evaluation of the student's residency based on the ISIR. If a student is presented in MiSSG as Ineligible - Not a Michigan Resident, institutions can collect additional documentation from the student to evaluate if they meet the Michigan residency requirement.
  • Students transferring between a Community College and a Four-Year institution in the same Academic Year can be awarded at both institutions. The amount received at the Community College will not impact their Four-Year annual award and vice versa.
  • No, a student must have a complete and verified FAFSA in order to be eligible for all parts of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
  • Students must meet and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as monitored by your institution. SAP does not travel to a different institution.
  • There is no deadline. Students must complete the current year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered. However, students must enroll at an eligible institution within 15 months of high school graduation or earning a high school equivalency certificate.
  • A student eligible for Michigan Achievement Scholarship must be enrolled at least full-time or its equivalent, as defined by the institution.
  • Dual Enrolled or Early Middle College students must graduate from a high school in Michigan with a diploma, certificate of completion, or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after, before they can be considered eligible for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship/Community College Guarantee. Students can earn more than one Associate Degree or Certificate.
  • To qualify for Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a student must be enrolled in a degree-granting program or qualifying certificate program. An acceptable certificate program must be a minimum of 24 semester credits (or 36 term credits) and at least 30 weeks of instructional time within a 12-month consecutive period. Courses outside of the degree-granting program may be included in determining the student’s enrollment status and Cost of Attendance (COA).
  • Students have a total of five years to utilize the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, with no more than three years being used at an eligible community/Tribal college. Students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college may be eligible to receive the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for up to five consecutive years. MiSSG will track the award time constraints.
  • Failed courses that a student is repeating may be included in Michigan Achievement Scholarship calculations.
  • Institutions may keep program funds if costs were incurred; unused funds must be refunded to MI Student Aid via MiSSG.
  • Yes, students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma, certificate of completion, or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after may be eligible regardless of age.
  • There is no age requirement as long as you are a graduate from a Michigan high school with a diploma, certificate of completion, or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after. Students must enroll at an eligible institution within 15 months of high school graduation or earning a high school equivalency certificate.