Michigan Senate advances bills to lower tuition costs for high school graduates – The Michigan Independent
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The Democratic-sponsored bills would codify two state-sponsored tuition assistance programs in state law.
The Michigan Senate on Sept. 25 passed a package of bills intended to strengthen the state’s workforce by making college and career training more accessible to high school graduates.
Senate Bills 382 and 383, aimed at helping the state meet the increasing demand for degreed workers, would codify in state law two state-sponsored tuition assistance programs, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship. After passing the upper chamber, the bills were sent to the Michigan House of Representatives Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship provides recent high school graduates free tuition for community college and up to $5,500 per year for study at an in-state public university, private college or four-year degree program at a community college. The Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship provides up to $2,000 per year for two years in a career training program.
The Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on the bills the day before they passed. Democratic state Sen. Sarah Anthony, the bills’ sponsor, who serves as Appropriations Committee chair, said during the meeting that cementing the program in state law would secure the “future for many high school students across the state of Michigan to gain skills and credentials needed for Michigan’s high-demand jobs.”
Michigan lags other states in education attainment, defined as the highest level of education an individual has received. According to state data, the number of Michigan high schoolers enrolling in college has taken a hit: Only 53.4% of graduating seniors enrolled in post-secondary education in the six months following the 2023-2024 school year, a decrease of over 12% from the decade prior.
Simultaneously, businesses’ need for employees with post-secondary degrees is projected to increase. Michigan researchers found that among the state’s 50 most in-demand, high-wage careers through 2032, 35 require at least a four-year degree, including for roles such as data scientists and physician assistants.
In a letter sent to the Appropriations Committee, the presidents of the Detroit Regional Chamber, Business Leaders for Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, and TalentFirst said they receive feedback directly from members about the shortage of qualified employees necessary for business growth.
The coalition of Michigan business groups, which urged swift passage of the bills, also issued a strong message of support for the additional performance measures included in the bills. To guarantee the effectiveness of the programs and increase transparency, the legislation would direct the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential to create a publicly available online dashboard featuring metrics such as program participation, student completion rates, and credentials earned.
“By establishing this program in statute, the Legislature can ensure a reliable framework with consistent accountability while preserving flexibility through the annual appropriations process,” the letter reads. “This balance provides predictability for students and adaptability for lawmakers. Michigan’s prosperity depends on the skills of its workforce. Codifying the Michigan Achievement Scholarship is a vital step toward building a nation-leading talent infrastructure.”
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship was created in 2022 to move the state’s workforce toward its “Sixty by 30” goal, ensuring 60% of adults in Michigan hold a college degree or skills certificate by the year 2030. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer first announced the Sixty by 30 initiative in 2019.
The state is seeing promising results from these efforts, Sarah Szurpicki, deputy director of higher education at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, testified before the committee. Since 2019, Michigan’s attainment rate has risen from 45% to nearly 52%, with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship being a major contributing factor to this progress, Szurpicki said.
More than 60,000 Michigan students enrolled in Michigan community colleges or public universities this spring benefitted from free or reduced-cost tuition through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, saving families an estimated $252 million in tuition costs, according to state data.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is currently allocated $300 million in annual, ongoing funding from the state budget. In her executive budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year, Whitmer proposed an additional $50 million investment in the program. While the scholarships would still be subject to appropriation under the Senate proposal, the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency projects program costs to increase until fiscal year 2027 and to stabilize at $600 million each year thereafter.
“There’s clear, demonstrated need for continued investment in college affordability,” Szurpicki said. “Codifying these scholarships would cement Michigan’s commitment to its students, families and employers, ensuring that education remains affordable and aligned with our workforce needs. It will help us finish the sprint to 2030 and secure Michigan’s long-term prosperity.”
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