(The Center Square) – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential has announced the Universal FAFSA Challenge Grant, a $10 million grant program meant to increase FAFSA completion among Michigan high school seniors.
Only school districts which incorporate FAFSA compilation into their high school graduation requirements can access the grant, which the districts must spend on “activities that are proven to increase FAFSA completion.”
“Completing the FAFSA is a critical step for students seeking financial aid for college,” MiLEAP Director Beverly Walker-Griffea said in a statement. “Our department is committed to fostering partnerships that enable Michigan students to unlock these essential dollars, ensuring they have access to the financial resources needed to further their education and pave their path to prosperity.”
The funds will be distributed based on the number of 12th-grade students in qualifying districts.
Students who do not wish to complete the FAFSA but are otherwise on track to graduate may submit a waiver for exemption. Only 47% of high school seniors completed the FAFSA during the 2023-2024 school year, according to MiLEAP statistics.
In 2021, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her “Sixty by 30” plan, aiming for 60% of Michigan high school graduates to attend college by 2030. Of the 99,265 high school graduates in 2023, 52,903, or 53.3%, enrolled college within the next six months.
