Michigan – Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan adults ages 21 through 24 can now apply for Michigan Reconnect, expanding access to a program that helps eligible residents earn a tuition-free associate degree or skills certificate.
The expansion was made possible through a $25 million ongoing investment included in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2027 education budget. The change lowers the program’s minimum eligibility age from 25 to 21, opening the opportunity to thousands of additional Michiganders.
Launched in 2021, Michigan Reconnect allows adults without a college degree to return to school with little or no tuition costs. Students attending their local community college can enroll tuition-free, while those attending an out-of-district college can receive substantial tuition assistance.
More than 250,000 Michiganders have applied for the program, with nearly 20,000 graduates so far.
State data also showed that the program can provide benefits beyond education. According to the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, Reconnect graduates had a median wage increase of $13,400 one year after graduation compared with their pre-Reconnect wages. By the second year, the median increase reached $16,300.
“Every Michigander deserves a fair shot at building a future, and we’re making sure that money doesn’t stand in the way,” Whitmer said.
State officials encouraged newly eligible adults to apply, noting that Reconnect Navigators are available to provide free one-on-one assistance with applications, financial aid, career goals and program selection.
The application is available through Michigan Reconnect and takes about five minutes to complete.
