November 2025: Scholarship Month

WHEREAS,the rising costs of higher education have outpaced inflation and the growth of family income, all of which pose a serious threat to the ability of our residents to ensure access to a college education; and,

WHEREAS, according to the State of Michigan’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, more than 1.7 million Michigan jobs are projected to require some level of postsecondary education by 2028, and scholarships play a key role in helping students achieve the skills they need for these careers; and,

WHEREAS, statistics show that people who obtain postsecondary credentials have substantially higher lifetime earnings than those who earn only high school diplomas or do not finish high school; and,

WHEREAS,many Michiganders face financial barriers to obtaining a degree or certificate, and scholarships can provide need-based aid to support their education and career goals; and

WHEREAS,many local communities provide place-based scholarship opportunities through schools, faith-based institutions, jobs or parents’ jobs; and,

WHEREAS,the State of Michigan offers several scholarships, such as the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, Community College Guarantee, Fostering Futures Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect, among others; and,

WHEREAS,students should apply for scholarships early and often because some deadlines are as early as a year before a student begins college; and,

WHEREAS,simply completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) makes most students eligible for many scholarships, including the Michigan Achievement Scholarship; and,

WHEREAS, In academic year 2023-2024, 117,336 students were awarded a state scholarship saving students and families over $375 million in tuition and expenses; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan strives to assist students and families in identifying and accessing available resources to support postsecondary education; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Michigan, recognizing the importance of postsecondary education to building the economy of the future, through its Sixty by 30 goal to achieve 60% of the state’s workforce having a certificate or degree by 2030; and,

WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential’s (MiLEAP) MI Student Aid Outreach Team, the State of Michigan’s go-to resource for financial aid information, provides a database of Michigan place-based scholarships, as well as scholarship application resources, and connects students to Michigan college and national scholarship opportunities; and,

WHEREAS, the Michigan Reconnect Student Navigator Team, supports adult learners 25 and older to start or finish their path to a college degree or certificate, providing resources to help them with the college-going process including creating a plan to graduate; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2025 as Scholarship Month in Michigan.