Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Update
We are excited to announce Governor Whitmer has signed the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) State budget, which includes continued funding for State financial aid programs and MiLEAP initiatives for Academic Year 2026-27.
We’re pleased to share all State financial aid programs received appropriations, ensuring ongoing support for Michigan students. A summary of program updates taking effect in Academic Year 2026-27 is provided below.
 Here to Help
Join us for an upcoming informational session to review the updated State financial aid changes taking effect in Academic Year 2026-27.
- Thursday July 30, 2026, 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
State Financial Aid Program Updates
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG)
- No program changes.
- $2,800 annual maximum award.
Fostering Futures Scholarship (FFS)
- Summer awards allowable (beginning Summer 2027).
- $5,000 annual maximum award.
Futures for Frontliners (F4F)
- No program changes.
- Award amount varies.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
- $232 million increased appropriations.
- Allows Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship to be awarded in the same year (not the same term).
- Note: System modifications are in progress and updates will be shared as they are available.
- Removes criteria students must have graduated from a Michigan high school.
- Note: Students must still meet the Michigan residency requirements.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship - Community College Guarantee
- Award amount varies + $1,000 Michigan Achievement Scholarship Bonus.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship - Four-year Public or Private College or University
- Retains grandfathering/rollover of Class of 2023 EFC eligible students.
- $5,500 annual maximum award towards Cost of Attendance.
Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship
- Requires 15-month initiation.
- Note: System modifications are in progress and updates will be shared as they are available.
- Allows Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship to be awarded in the same year (not the same term).
- Note: System modifications are in progress and updates will be shared as they are available.
- Removes criteria students must have graduated from a Michigan high school.
- Note: Students must still meet the Michigan residency requirements.
- $2,000 annual maximum award.
Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS)
- Program ends September 30, 2029.
- $1,500 annual maximum award.
- Note: MCS eligible students at four-year private institutions will continue to be supplemented up to an additional $1,500 from MTG.
Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW)
MI Future Educator Fellowship (MI Fellowship)
- Educator Preparation Programs must include training in pedagogical methods grounded in the science of reading for students to qualify for MI Fellowship.
- 2026-27 recipients may fulfill their teaching requirement at a nonpublic school or qualifying nonpublic preschool program (in addition to a public school or qualifying public preschool program).
- Removes high school graduation requirement.
- Note: System modifications are in progress and updates will be shared as they are available.
- $10,000 annual maximum award.
MI Future Educator Stipend (MI Stipend)
- $7 million increased appropriations.
- Educator Preparation Programs must include training in pedagogical methods grounded in the science of reading for students to qualify for MI Stipend.
- 2026-27 recipients may fulfill their student teaching requirement at a nonpublic school (in addition to a public school).
- Note: System modifications are in progress and updates will be shared as they are available.
- $9,600 stipend per semester of required student teaching.
MI GEAR UP
- $5,000 annual maximum award for Class of 2026 students only.
- $2,000 annual maximum award for all other cohorts.
Michigan Reconnect (Reconnect)
Michigan Reconnect Expansion (Reconnect Expansion)
- No program changes.
- Award amount varies.
Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG)
- $5 million annual maximum for private or independent degree-granting, non-profit institutions.
- Program ends September 30, 2029.
- $3,000 annual maximum award.
Non-public Dual Enrollment (DE)
- $500,000 increased appropriations.
- No program changes.
- Note: MiLEAP Office of Higher Education will be implementing new billing processes in Academic Year 2026-27. Updates will be shared as they are available.
- Award amount varies.
Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Grant (STG)
- No program changes.
- Award amount varies.
Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
- $43.5 million increased appropriations.
- Allows students who are enrolled in and receive instruction in a special education program or service (at the time of graduation) to have until age 26 to complete high school or its recognized equivalent.
- TIP Phase I rate at private or independent degree-granting institutions is $138 per credit hour.
- Mandatory fees cannot exceed $450 per semester or term.
- Award amount varies.
Fall Certification/Request for Reimbursement Available Date
Fall Certification and Requests for Reimbursement will be available Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Fall Certification for Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship will be available in November.
2026-27 Payments
Monthly
MI Future Educator Stipend (new), and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, and Nonpublic Dual Enrollment payments are processed monthly. Payments will begin processing monthly on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through August 11, 2027.*
*Pending system modifications needed to accommodate program changes.
Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship payments will begin processing Wednesday, November 11, 2026 through September 8, 2027.*
*Pending system modifications needed to accommodate program changes.
Quarterly
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, Fostering Futures Scholarship, Futures for Frontliners, MI Future Educator Fellowship (new) Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Competitive Scholarship, MI GEAR UP Scholarship, Michigan Reconnect Scholarship/Expansion, Michigan Tuition Grant, Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant, and Tuition Incentive Program payments are processed quarterly. First quarter payments are scheduled to be issued Wednesday, November 11, 2026.*
*Pending system modifications needed to accommodate program changes.
State Programs and Procedures Manual/Web Site Updates
Updates to the 2026-27 State Programs and Procedure Manual, publications, flyers, and the Web site will be available soon.
Reminder: Current Students and families depend on accurate online information when making important financial decisions. Outdated State Financial Aid content can create confusion or barriers to accessing aid. Institutions are encouraged to regularly review and update all State Financial Aid information on their websites. We have created a we will continue to update to assist you in quickly checking the accuracy of your information.
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential is not affiliated with National Merit Scholarship Corporation or its registered trademarks National Achievement®, Achievement Scholarship®, or Achievement Schola®.
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