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Going to College

Going to College

  • Are any programs not covered under the scholarship?

    Are any programs not covered under the scholarship?

    The Michigan Reconnect program can only support Pell-eligible skill certificate or associate degree programs. If a program doesn’t qualify for federal Pell funding, Reconnect can’t be applied to it.

    Most offerings at your local community college do meet Pell requirements, but a few may not. Contact the college's financial aid office so they can confirm whether your specific program is eligible.

    View List of Colleges

  • How many credits can I enroll in per semester?

    There is no cap on the maximum number of credits you cane enroll in per semester. However, Reconnect participants must earn at least 12 credits in required coursework each academic year as part of the requirements to maintain the scholarship.

    Good News: Starting in Summer 2023, Reconnect students can be enrolled for as little as 1 credit in their Pell-eligible skill certificate or associate degree program. This does not however apply to past semesters.

    See What are the requirements for keeping this scholarship?

  • What if I can't/am not ready to enroll right away?

    If you’re applying for Michigan Reconnect but aren’t sure if you’re ready to enroll right away, that’s okay. After you submit your scholarship application, we’ll get you connected with a Reconnect Navigator who can guide you through the next steps and help you get enrolled.

  • What if I have questions about a specific community college?

    On our List of Colleges page, you can find contact information for each of the community colleges. Reach out to your college directly to learn more.

  • What if I want to change my program of study while participating in Michigan Reconnect?

    If you’d like to change your program of study while participating in the Reconnect scholarship program, that’s okay. As long as it’s a Pell-eligible skill certificate or an associate degree at an eligible institution and you continue to be eligible for the scholarship program, you can transfer from one program to another without loss of the scholarship.

    Please note, you must meet the scholarship’s annual maintenance requirements to keep your scholarship active as you change academic programs.

  • When can I start classes?

    Once you submit your scholarship application, your next steps are to:

    • Apply to and be admitted to a Michigan public community college.
    • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov. If we have one on file for you already, you can skip this step.
    • Enroll in a Pell-eligible skill certificate or an associate degree.

    If you do not start school within one (1) year of your scholarship application being accepted, you may need to reactivate your Reconnect scholarship application.

    To reactivate your Reconnect scholarship application, you'll need to have a current-year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file in the MiSSG Student Portal. If you're not sure which FAFSA is considered a 'current-year' FAFSA, check out What FAFSA Do I File?