State Grants & ProgramsFormula-based

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Offered by State of Michigan (MiLEAP / MI Student Aid) · Free to apply

Award

Up to $5,500/yr x 5 years ($27,500 max), or tuition-free community college

renewable in later years

Deadline

June 30, 2027

deadlines recur around June each year

Estimated odds

Formula-based

allocated by formula

Application effort

~1.5 hrs

paperwork, not a competition

Recent Michigan high school graduates can draw up to $5,500 a year for five years, $27,500 in total, at a Michigan public university, private college, or four-year community college program, provided their Student Aid Index is $30,000 or less. The Community College Guarantee arm of the same program covers in-district tuition, contact hours, and mandatory fees at a local community college with no income test at all. Residency since July 1 of the prior year, enrollment within 15 months of graduation, and full-time attendance are the gating rules. Filing the FAFSA is the entire application; the state publishes no application date and each college packages the award on its own schedule. Still, file as soon as the FAFSA opens on October 1, since the award year closes June 30 and some of the money is committed in the order files arrive.

How hard is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

Estimated odds: qualifying students generally receive it
Paperwork: ~1.5 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Michigan residents
Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Michigan
Open to high school seniors and current college students
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
Household income of $125,000 or less

Confirm these before applying

Must enroll within 15 months of high school graduation; some funds are first-come, so file the FAFSA early
Cannot be in default on a federal student loan

Good to know

Must graduate from a Michigan high school (diploma, certificate of completion, or equivalency) in 2023 or later
Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year; for dependent students the parent must meet the same residency test
The SAI cap applies to the college/university pathway only; the Community College Guarantee has no income test
Approved refugees qualify alongside citizens and permanent residents
The Community College Guarantee covers in-district tuition, contact hours, and mandatory fees; out-of-district students may owe the difference

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens. No state cutoff, but file the FAFSA in October: your college packages and pays the award, and the award year closes June 30.

FAFSA opens: October 1, 2026
Aid offer from your college: Timeline set by each college
Award year closes: June 30, 2027

Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

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Common questions about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship

How much is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship worth?

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship awards up to $5,500/yr x 5 years ($27,500 max), or tuition-free community college and is renewable in later years.

When is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship deadline?

When do Michigan Achievement Scholarship applications open?

Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens, and close June 30, 2027. No state cutoff, but file the FAFSA in October: your college packages and pays the award, and the award year closes June 30.

Who is eligible for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Michigan; Open to high school seniors and current college students; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card); Household income of $125,000 or less.

Does the Michigan Achievement Scholarship require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1.5 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Michigan Achievement Scholarship?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1.5 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

More state grants & programs

Lists this award appears on

Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.