LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan high schools will have the chance to apply for state funding to help increase the number of 12th-grade students who file their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Michigan Department for Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has announced a $10 million challenge grant program.
The funds will help schools adopt universal FAFSA programs that aim to make sure every student files for aid to help cover the costs of college, or fills out a form that acknowledges their choice not to.
MiLEAP’s Deputy Director for Higher Education, Michelle Richard, said when students file their FAFSA, 90% of them go on to enroll in a university. Richard said the FAFSA is a really important step for you to know how much scholarship and financial aid is available to you to attend the college or university that you’re interested in attending.
“We know that completing the fast fun can sometimes be a little overwhelming, and having help on campus at your high school, having support in your community for you to ask all the questions you have and maybe get extra support if you hit a bump in the road while you’re completing the FAFSA, that’s why this grant is so important,” Richard said. “High schools across the state already do a tremendous amount of work to help support students in what comes next after high school. we just know there’s always more to do, it’s a big decision about what happens after high school graduation.”
She said these funds are designed to help schools expand the resources they have for their students.
The applications will open up for schools on November 1, and the funds are expected to be awarded in January. You can find more information here: https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/higher-education/universal-fafsa-challenge-grants
