Thousands apply for free tuition through Michigan Reconnect
Over 30K residents in region have applied for scholarships
For 10 years, Danielle Ybarra has been trying to balance life, with the hope that she would someday be able to complete her college education.
The 29-year-old Pontiac resident graduated from Clarkston High School in 2010 and immediately began taking classes at Oakland Community College (OCC). A few months later, she dropped her classes after becoming overwhelmed and finding it difficult to balance a full slate of classes, work and the needs of her family.
Since then, she has remained determined to complete her associate’s degree in mental health and social work, taking a class here and there, paying for them on her own without financial aid.
Earlier this year, Ybarra’s husband made her aware of the Michigan Reconnect Program, which recently opened to residents 25 and older offering “last dollar” scholarships that can used to attend in-district community college or a private training school to earn an associate’s degree or postsecondary skills certificate.
Ybarra later applied for tuition assistance through Michigan Reconnect and was approved. She’s looking forward to taking her four remaining classes this fall, with the expectation she will graduate from OCC next May.
“I had questions if I would ever go back to school,” she said. “I thought (Michigan Reconnect) was an opportunity that I needed to take. I really appreciate the support I’ve received from God, my friends, and my family. Oakland Community College welcomed me back with open arms.”
To date, over 30,000 Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne county residents have applied for free community college tuition through the $30 million Michigan Reconnect Program. The scholarships will pay the remaining balance of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other state and federal loans. For those who choose to attend an out-ofdistrict community college,
Reconnect will pay the indistrict portion of tuition.
Applicants must be at least 25 years old, have lived in the state a year or more, have a high school diploma or equivalent and have not completed a college degree. Applications, which take around 5 minutes to fill out, are still being accepted at Michigan. gov/Reconnect.
Number of applicants and eligible residents by county:
• 6,934 (395,117) in Ma
comb County
• 1,063 (71,448) in Monroe County
• 6,968 (396,224) in Oakland County
• 17,314 (800,343) in Wayne County
Statewide, newly released data from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) also shows:
• 67% are female
• 2 in 5 are people of color
• 32% are Black
• One-third are 25-29 years old
• Nearly 4,000 are 55 and older
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said 2 million southeast Michigan residents eligible to apply for tuition assistance through the Michigan Reconnect Program.
“Michigan Reconnect is a win for Michigan’s residents and the state’s economy,” he said. “Michigan Reconnect removes a major financial to a college degree.”
Sandy Baruah Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO, said the program will also help address the state’s widening talent gap as Michigan employers’ continue to find it difficult to identify highly skilled and capable employees.
“Businesses tell us every day that access to talent is their number one priority to be able to compete and win,” he said. “Only 48 percent of Michigan adults have a secondary degree or skilled trades certificate. We have to get those in the workforce to finish that degree or certificate.”
Right now, LEO is focused on receiving applications. Beginning this summer, colleges can request reimbursement from the Michigan Department of Treasury with students noticing the scholarship as a change reflected in their tuition bill.
Oakland County Executive David Coulter said Michigan cannot let a lack of resources prevent people from getting a good education.
“This program is making a significant difference,” he said. “There is a huge need and desire for a program like this.”
Earlier this year, LEO had set a goal of enlisting 60,000 Reconnect applicants by Memorial Day. The number of applicants increased significantly earlier this month when approximately 14,000 Michiganders who applied but didn’t qualify for Futures for Frontliners were automatically enrolled for Michigan Reconnect.