Governor Whitmer Proposes Tuition-Free Community College

In her first state budget presentation, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed a tuition-free community college program for Michigan residents. The plan would cost up to about $100 million per year, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Whitmer's plan is termed a "last dollar plan," meaning it would cover financial aid for students after all other federal aid and grants were applied to a student's tuition bill. The program would begin in 2021 and include a $2,500 scholarship for eligible students who attend a four-year college.

Governor Whitmer also proposed a tuition-free program for the residents age 25 and older called Michigan Reconnect. The program would cost approximately $110 million and would help cover costs for residents to attend two-year institutions, career certification programs and obtain union apprenticeships.