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Top Affordable Colleges in Michigan
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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The state of Michigan has many great options for an affordable college education. Whether you are looking for an in-state discount, strong need-based aid, or generous merit aid, we have great options for you below.
Affordable colleges for in-state students
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
University of Michigan Ann Arbor cares about making your education worth the price tag and states that graduates from this reputable university earn $1,000,000+ more in a lifetime than high school graduates. Michigan can be especially affordable for Native American residents because of the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver.
Michigan also has the “Go Blue Guarantee,” which offers free tuition to families with incomes $75,000 and below. This makes it the only public institution in Michigan that covers 100% of demonstrated financial need for eligible residents. So, be sure to complete your FAFSA early!
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public university that offers financial aid to 95% of their students! While the typical cost of attendance is around $30,000, MSU can actually be a more affordable option for in-state students due to their Spartan Tuition Advantage. This program covers up to 18 credit hours per semester for full-time, in-state students that are Pell-eligible with incomes of $65,000 or less.
It’s also fairly new, so the class of 2024-2025 will be the first recipients! However, keep in mind that transfer students are not eligible for the program. Students should also fill out the FAFSA each year to maintain eligibility since it’s automatically renewable for eight consecutive semesters.
Best merit aid
Hope College
Hope College is eager to reward students for all different types of high school achievements. While Hope is test optional for their applicants, it’s ideal to send them your test scores to maximize your chances since they are superscored. Based on your GPA and/or test scores, you can qualify for one of the six merit awards: the National Merit Scholarship, the Trustee Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, the Distinguished Scholar Award, the Alumni Honors Scholarship, and the Anchor Award.
These awards range from $7,500 to $24,000, and are guaranteed through sophomore year and the following ones if you maintain a 3.0 GPA for the higher awards or a 2.75 GPA for the lower ones. There are also awards for various arts, such as creative writing, dance, music, theater, and visual arts.
University of Detroit Mercy
The University of Detroit Mercy offers freshmen and transfer students a variety of scholarships that can make attendance a lot more affordable! For example, freshmen have the chance to win merit scholarships up to $15,000 for their GPA, test scores and extracurriculars while transfer students can win the Detroit Mercy Grant, which covers up to $12,000 depending on your undergraduate GPA.
There are also several full-ride options available, such as the McNichols Puritan Lodge Community Counsel Scholarship, the Jesuit Founders Scholarship, and the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. All awards, excluding the architecture, architectural engineering, and physician assistant scholarships, require students to maintain a 2.0 GPA and maintain continuous, full-time enrollment.
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify for in-state tuition?
What’s demonstrated need?
