Michigan Promise Scholarship

The Michigan Promise scholarship (Public Act 479 of 2006) signed in law by Governor Granholm on December 21, 2006 provides up to $4,000 to high school graduates for successfully completing two years of postsecondary education beginning with the high school graduating class of 2007.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a Michigan resident.
• Take the State Assessment Test; either the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), or the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) depending on high school graduating class year as listed below.
• Enroll at an approved postsecondary institution in Michigan or a military service academy within two years of becoming a high school graduate (two-year period would be extended for service in armed forces or Peace Corps).
• Complete the postecondary education requirements (associate's degree, etc.) within four years of initial enrollment at the postsecondary institution.
• Achieve a cumulative college grade point average of 2.5 (except for students completing vocatitonal education programs that do not record grades).
• Be a high school graduate or have passed the GED or any other graduate equivalency exam approved by the State Board of Education.
• Certify his or her eligibility for a scholarship.
• Meets all other eligibility criteria.

State Assessment Test Criteria

• Class of 2008 and Beyond

Students from the high school graduating class of 2008, and beyond, need to take the MME to qualify for the Michigan Promise scholarship.   

• Class of 2007

Students from the high school graduating class of 2007 who have already taken the MEAP test and received qualifying scores for the Michigan Merit Award (notification received from the Office of Scholarships and Grants) already qualify for the Michigan Promise scholarship.

Students from the high school graduating class of 2007 who have already taken the MEAP test and have not received qualifying scores for the Michigan Merit Award are advised to retake the MEAP test in Spring 2007.

• Class of 2006 and Prior  

Students from the high school graduating class of 2006 and prior are not eligible for the Michigan Promise scholarship.  Students may be eligible for the Michigan Merit Award.

Scholarship Amounts

• Students who receive qualifying scores on the State Assessment Test (MEAP or MME depending on high school graduating class year) may receive up to $1,000 per academic year for each of their first two years of college enrollment and up to $2,000 after the successful completion of two years of postsecondary education with at least a 2.5 GPA (associate's degree, two-year certificate, vocational education program or 50 percent of the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree).
• Students who do not receive qualifying scores on the State Assessment Test (MEAP or MME depending on high school graduating class year) may receive up to $4,000 after the successful completion of two years of postsecondary education with at least a 2.5 GPA (associate's degree, two-year certificate, vocational education program or 50 percent of the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree).
• Students completing a vocational training program requiring less than two years to complete may be eligible for a prorated scholarship amount.

For More Information 

For more information on the Michigan Promise scholarship, contact the Office of Scholarships and Grants toll-free at 1-888-4-GRANTS (888-447-2687) or e-mail osg@michigan.gov. 

For more information on the MEAP or the MME, contact the Michigan  Department of Education, office of Educational Assessment & Accountability, toll-free at 1-877-560-8378 or e-mail oeaa@michigan.gov.

Copyright 2007 State of Michigan