Student Financial Aid

State of Michigan Scholarships and Grants

If you are a current resident of Michigan, you may qualify for a variety of scholarships and grants from the state. To begin the process, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then apply through the Michigan Student Aid (MiSSG) Student Portal. The state of Michigan will notify Western of student eligibility, and the financial aid office will offer students accordingly.

Student Financial Aid
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5337 USA
(269) 387-6000

Fostering Futures Scholarship

The Fostering Futures Scholarship provides scholarships to students who have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after age 13. Students must also demonstrate financial need to qualify.

Explore the Fostering Futures Scholarship  

 

Michigan Competitive Scholarship

The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing their first degree and is based on both financial need and merit. To be considered, a student must take the SAT (class of 2017 and beyond) prior to entering college and achieve a qualifying score of at least 1200. This offer requires financial need, as determined by the state of Michigan. Students receiving this award at WMU will be given a preliminary offer, which is subject to change if additional financial aid is received throughout the year.

Explore the Michigan Competitive Scholarship  

 

Michigan GEAR UP Scholarship

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federal program designed to provide early intervention services and programs to students in middle school and high school. The Michigan GEAR UP (MI GEAR UP) Scholarship targets low income students by providing them with support services to increase their opportunity to succeed in postsecondary education.

Explore the Michigan GEAR UP Scholarship  

 

Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS)

Starting with the Class of 2023, high school graduates from the state of Michigan may be eligible for an annual Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS) of up to $5,500 for five academic years.

Eligibility

To be considered for a Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a student must:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    • Please note: If selected for verification, this process must be completed to receive the MAS award.
  • Demonstrate financial need by having a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $30,000 or less.
  • Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
    • If a dependent student, parent(s) must also be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
  • Graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or a certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after.
  • Enroll full time as defined by the eligible institution. (Eligible institutions include Michigan community colleges, tribal colleges and public or private universities).
  • Enroll at an eligible institution within 15 months of high school graduation or earning a high school equivalency certificate.
  • Students are not eligible if they are incarcerated or are in default on a federal student loan.

Students are also encouraged to create an account in the MiSSG Portal at so they can track the status of their scholarship. An MiSSG Student Portal account can be created 3-5 business days after completing a FAFSA.

Award amounts

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is comprised of two parts: a $2,500 minimum award per year, and a last-dollar tuition award of up to $3,000 per year. Students who may be eligible will see the award on their financial aid offer for the 2023-24 academic year as an estimated award. Please be advised that these award offers are subject to removal or change as WMU processes other aid received on the student’s behalf.

Award payment

Students must be enrolled full time and be in making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for the award to pay to their account. The minimum award portion of the scholarship should pay approximately 10 days prior to the beginning of the term. The last dollar portion of the award may not pay fully until after the add/drop period of the term so that all other tuition-based aid is taken into consideration, per state awarding requirements.

Explore the Michigan Achievement Scholarship  

I think that the curriculum and the financial aid aspect really helped me to get to this point, along with the professors and connections I've made. Graduating and aspiring to hopefully one day become a PA and have the privilege to serve other patients and treat their health needs, I think that's something my mom would definitely be proud of.
—Jovanny Ruiz-Alavez, B.S.'21, biomedical sciences and Foundation Scholar

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

The Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver program is authorized by the state of Michigan and waives the tuition costs for eligible Native Americans in the state's public community colleges and universities.

Explore the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

 

Michigan Education Trust

The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan that allows for the pre-purchase of tuition based on today's rates and then paid out at the future cost when the beneficiary is in college. MET allows parents, grandparents, businesses and others to pre-purchase undergraduate tuition for a child residing in Michigan at any Michigan public university or college, including 28 public community colleges.

Eligibility

  • MET contract purchased from the state of Michigan.
  • You must notify the state of Michigan you are attending WMU.
  • MET notifies WMU on a semester-by-semester basis of eligible students and maximum number of credit hours remaining for each student.
  • WMU adds the MET payment to the student account on a semester-by-semester basis (after receiving eligibility information from MET).
  • MET funds can be used for study abroad (up to the amount of tuition and fees for 12 credit hours at WMU).

Contract covers

  • Cost of tuition (up to a maximum number of hours as designated by MET).
  • Mandatory fees—including enrollment and student assessment fees—the program part of the orientation fee and first year experience program fee.

Please note: Housing, food, books, non-mandatory fees and other expenses are not covered by MET.

Contact Michigan Education Trust at (800) 638 4543 or michigan.gov/setwithmet.

An intern helping a student on a computer.

MI Future Educator Fellowship

The MI Future Educator Fellowship provides financial assistance to our future educators who are enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program. Awards for tuition and fees pay up to a maximum of $10,000 per academic year. Students may receive assistance for up to three academic years for a total of $30,000.

A student teacher in class.

MI Future Educator Stipend

The MI Future Educator Stipend provides $9,600 to our future educators who are participating in their required student teaching semester.

 

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) Grant

The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages students to complete high school by providing college tuition assistance after graduation. Eligible students are those who have or have had Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36 consecutive month period as identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Students may receive a maximum of $2,000 in TIP funds. Eligible students will received $500 in the fall and spring semesters. Students may receive one summer TIP award per academic year for $400. To receive TIP in the summer, students must submit a summer financial aid application and request TIP funding.

Explore the TIP Grant  

 

Children of Veterans Tuition Grant

The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to students older than 16 and younger than 26 years of age who are the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran. The veteran must have died or became totally and permanently disabled as a result of military service.

Explore the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant  

 

Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Grant

The Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Act provides for the waiver of tuition at a Michigan community college or public university for children and surviving spouses of Michigan police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. 

Explore the Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Grant  

 

More funding opportunities

Federal student grants:

A federal student grant is a type of financial aid that you don’t have to pay back. They come in the form of the federal Pell Grant, the federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and the federal TEACH Grant.
Explore federal offers

Institutional scholarships:

Scholarships and grants are types of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. They are a great way to pay for your education and may reduce the need for student loans.
Explore institutional offers

Kalamazoo Promise:

Western is a proud partner of the Kalamazoo Promise, a private scholarship foundation that offers scholarships to students who attended Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Explore Kalamazoo offers

Private scholarships:

Private scholarships are free funds from sources outside of WMU. Scholarships that are received from a private source must be reported to the University and must be factored in to existing student financial aid offers.
Explore private offers