Free College? Yep, Michigan’s Got You Covered

After I graduated High School in 2017, I started my college career at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) before transferring to Grand Valley State University (GVSU). I loved GRCC, the professors were fantastic and the college offered a cheaper option than starting at a four-year university.

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I'm honestly not sure I would have pursued a post-high school education if GRCC had not been an option.

It seems I'm not the only one who feels this way because Governor Gretchen Whitmer has created a new budget giving all recent high-school grads in Michigan free tuition at community colleges starting this fall, giving people a new chance at getting a degree.

Starting Debt-Free

Every year I was at GVSU, tuition prices went up, reflecting a nationwide trend in colleges becoming more and more expensive since the turn of the century. This ruling comes at a crucial time when students are already apprehensive about the cost of education, with many worried they'll never be able to pay off their loans (cough cough).

However, recent high school grads in Michigan won't have to worry about that. The ruling will only cover tuition, so if the college has room and board that will have to be covered out of pocket or other coverage.

The move will give people a shot at an associate's degree, trade, or certificate for free. You can read the official press release about this new budget here.