Are College Bills Breaking Your Budget?
Consider Grant and Scholarship Money in Michigan
Taking a look at Michigan's State Scholarships and Grants it is easy to see that the state emphasizes incentive programs aimed at high school students with attractive college tuition funds if they perform academically and stay out of trouble. Urban students and very rural students may succumb to cultural and social situations that may imperil their goals for a college career. Michigan works overtime to make earning a high school diploma worth the wait and hard work - the promise of a better life.
General Scholarships and Grants
The Michigan Merit Award is just one small instance of the state focusing on student performance prior to college. The program recognizes the outstanding scores of high school seniors on an aptitude test. Recipients may earn up to $3000 for their accomplishments, money they may use for college.
The Tuition Incentive Program is designed to influence the most socially and financially at-risk students to complete their high school education. But the program does not stop there. Students who qualify must also agree to pursue at least two years of college that the state offers to help subsidize. Students must have been on Medicaid for a certain period of time and of serious financial disadvantage to qualify. Maximum awards are $2000.
The Michigan Educational Opportunity Grant is aimed at only the most financially needy students wishing to pursue a community or technical college program. Students must only attend half time to qualify and must be able to progress academically. Grants available up to $1000. Apply through the school you will be attending by completing the FAFSA.
While many scholarships and grants support students at state-funded colleges and universities, there are others who plan to attend independent colleges. Michigan's Tuition Grant makes it possible for economically disadvantaged students to attend an independent institution. Eligible students may receive up to $2000 per academic year.
Adults are often not thought of when it comes to state educational funds, but the Adult Part-time Grant takes care of this demographic as well. What of an adult who can only attend a college program part-time? Students must be residents of Michigan and attending a state college or university to qualify. The grant allows for $600 a year for only two years, but it's worth the extra effort to apply.
The Competitive Scholarship program is both a merit and need-based program that is designed to award funds to qualifying individuals attending a Michigan state institution. The scholarship does not cover students who have been displaced from college for more than 10 years. Maximum scholarships are $2000. Apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant covers the cost of going to a state college or university for the dependents of those veterans wounded, disabled, POWs, or killed while serving their country. Eligible students must have a GPA of 2.25. Recipients may receive up to $11,000 over the course of a four-year degree.
The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship is a federally funded merit-based program that provides $1500 scholarships to the most academically talented. Recipients are chosen in their senior year of high school by a board of select educational professionals. Students must already be accepted at a college or university within the United States with the exception of a military academy. Students may renew for three years and must maintain a highly competitive GPA.
Specialized Scholarships and Grants
When it comes to medically underserved areas and critical shortages of some occupations, Michigan is just like every other state in the Union. Nurses are some of the most in-demand occupations and yet the nursing programs fail to draw the numbers necessary to outfit all areas and facilities. To remedy this many states have developed their own grant and loan repayment programs as incentive to help belabored areas draw more well-trained health professionals.
The Michigan Nursing Scholarship offers nursing students pursuing LPN, AN, or BSN the opportunity to receive up to $4000 per academic year to help fund their education. In return, graduates agree to employment at a Michigan state facility; one year of work is equivalent to one year of scholarship assistance.
See this page for a more nursing scholarships.
Go to the student financial aid section of Michigan's government website for complete details and applications.
