Michigan’s free tuition program for community college students is popular, but four public universities say it leaves out students in rural areas who earn the same two-year degrees at their schools.
What Is the Community College Guarantee?
The Michigan Community College Guarantee makes tuition free for eligible students earning an associate degree or skills certificate at a community college. When it launched in 2024, the state said it would save students up to $4,820 a year.
Which Universities Want to Join
Ferris State University, Northern Michigan University, Lake Superior State University and Michigan Technological University are the only four of Michigan’s 15 public universities that offer associate degrees. Some have done so for decades because many of their students live far from the nearest community college.
These four schools are now lobbying state lawmakers to include them in the Community College Guarantee.
How Many Students Are Affected
In 2024, these four universities awarded about 5% of the 21,353 associate degrees granted in Michigan. Ferris State awarded the most, with 750, followed by Northern Michigan with 245, Lake Superior State with 158, and Michigan Tech with 16.
A Ferris State spokesman said the universities want local students to have the same access to a quality education as students who live near community colleges.
The Cost Question
Expanding the program would cost more, because these universities charge the same tuition for associate and bachelor’s degree students. The total could reach $18 million to $20 million a year if the state paid full tuition for all associate-degree students at the four schools.
One possible solution being discussed is a deal where the universities lower tuition for associate degrees in exchange for being included in the program.