Lansing, MI – The University of Michigan has announced a significant expansion of its Go Blue Guarantee, a program that provides free tuition to in-state students, as part of its broader efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. At its Board of Regents meeting on December 5, university officials revealed that the income threshold for eligibility would be raised from $75,000 to $125,000 annually, beginning in the fall of 2025.
This expansion will enable more than 2,000 additional in-state and current undergraduate students across the university’s Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses to qualify for free tuition. Additionally, families with assets up to $125,000 will also be eligible under the revised criteria.
Since its inception in 2018, the Go Blue Guarantee has played a critical role in ensuring that students from diverse economic backgrounds can access higher education at the University of Michigan. By the start of the fall 2025 semester, more than 10,000 students are expected to have benefited from the program.
President Santa Ono emphasized the importance of the program in providing equitable access to education. “The Go Blue Guarantee breaks down economic barriers and ensures that a world-class education is available to Michigan students from all backgrounds, no matter their family’s economic means,” he said in a statement.
The decision to expand the program was also supported by Board of Regents members, including Regent Mark Bernstein, who called it “an extraordinary commitment to the state and to the future of this state.” Regent Mike Behm noted that the increase in the income threshold was a reflection of Michigan’s median household income, further solidifying the program’s relevance to the state’s residents.
The program’s eligibility requirements have evolved over time. Initially, the Go Blue Guarantee was available to families earning $65,000 or less, with asset limits set at $50,000. In 2021, the income limit was raised to $75,000, and students at the Dearborn and Flint campuses were required to maintain a 3.5 GPA to qualify. The recent expansion is expected to cost an additional $8.8 million annually.
Regent Denise Ilitch described the expansion as a testament to the university’s commitment to affordability and accessibility, stating, “We are constantly thinking and talking about an affordable, accessible education for all.”
The Go Blue Guarantee is part of a broader shift at the University of Michigan, where the administration is placing a greater emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Regent Sarah Hubbard highlighted this shift, noting that the expansion of the tuition guarantee is part of the university’s effort to serve students from all walks of life. She also mentioned the university’s recent moves toward institutional neutrality, including the elimination of diversity statements on job applications.
However, the announcement of the program’s expansion comes amid ongoing protests by faculty members concerned about potential cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Earlier this week, around 100 protesters marched from President Ono’s campus home to the Ruthven Administrative Building, urging the regents to maintain funding for DEI initiatives.
Despite these protests, university officials emphasized that the Go Blue Guarantee’s expansion is a clear demonstration of the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, offering financial support to students from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds. As the program grows, it is expected to have a lasting impact on Michigan’s higher education landscape, making college more accessible to families across the state.
