The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages eligible Medicaid recipients to complete high school by providing tuition assistance during an eligible student’s qualifying certificate or associate degree program and also during the student’s bachelor’s degree program. These two periods of assistance are referred to as ‘Phase I’ and ‘Phase II'.

Only students who were identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) as having met the Michigan Medicaid eligibility requirement may be considered for TIP.

Students, as young as 12, who have been identified as meeting the Medicaid eligibility requirement will be sent a notification about their TIP eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria

Student must:

• Student must have (or have had) Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36-month period between the ages of nine and high school graduation.
• File a current-year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Possess a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent prior to age 20.
• Students who attend a state-approved Early/Middle College have until age 21 to complete high school or its recognized equivalent.
• Begin using TIP at a participating institution within four years of high school completion/recognized equivalent.
• Enroll at least half-time at a participating institution. 
• Meet institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.
• Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
• If you are a dependent student, the contributor(s) on your FAFSA must also be a Michigan resident.
• This will be confirmed based on your FAFSA.
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or approved refugee.
• Not be in default on a Federal student loan.

Renewal Requirements

In addition to the initial eligibility requirements, to renew, a student must:

• File a current-year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Be enrolled in a qualifying certificate or associate degree program.
• Maintain Michigan residency.
• Be an undergraduate student.
• Meet institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.