Welcome to Academic Year 2026-27!
The year ahead is full of exciting opportunities as we continue supporting you and students across Michigan. But first, let’s celebrate what we achieved together this last year!
In Academic Year 2025-26, we helped more than 150,000 students receive over $675 million in State financial aid. That’s real impact and real opportunity. Thank you for making it happen!
We’re energized for another great year of partnership ahead.
Diann Cosme – Director, Student Aid and Access | Office of Higher Education
Year End Balancing – Deadline September 11, 2026
All institutions must balance expenditures for State financial aid programs following 4th quarter payments. Institutions must issue any refunds owed to the Office of Higher Education no later than September 11, 2026 and complete the program specific Refund Worksheet available on our Web site.
Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) Rate – Deadline September 30, 2026
Per Public Act No. 25 of 2026, the tuition rate that may be received for TIP at participating private or independent degree-granting institutions is calculated annually by averaging the standard in-district tuition rates of participating Michigan community colleges. The 2026-27 rate is $138 per credit hour and has been prepopulated in MiSSG.
All other institutions will need to enter their 2026-27 TIP Rates in MiSSG by September 30, 2026.
To enter the 2026-27 TIP Rates, please follow these instructions:
- Log into MiSSG.
- Select Tuition Incentive Program from the MiSSG Menu.
- Select School Profile.
- Update.
- Enter credit rate information.
- Save.
TIP Rate by Institution Type
- Community College/Tribal College: In-District Tuition Rate per Credit and Out-of-District Tuition Rate per Credit.
- Public University: Lowest Resident Rate per Credit.
2026-27 MiSSG Aid Administrator Security Access Form Available – Deadline September 30, 2026
Financial aid directors must annually renew the users at their institution by submitting a new MiSSG Aid Administrator Security Access Form.
MiSSG user accounts not renewed by September 30, 2026 will be deactivated.
MCS/MTG Budgets for 2027-28 – Deadline October 1, 2026
Between now and October 1, 2026, institution budget screens for Academic Year 2027-28 must be updated (with prior-year 2026-27 data). It is important all budgets are entered ahead of loading 2027-28 FAFSA records.
To update your institution's 2027-28 budget, please follow these instructions:
- Log into MiSSG.
- Select Michigan Competitive Scholarship from the MiSSG Menu.
- Select School Profile.
- Change the Academic Year at the top of the screen from Year 2026-27 to 2027-28.
- Select Budget.
- Enter both the Tuition and Fees and Room and Board using your institution's 2026-2027 Budget Information.
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Save.
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NOTE: If there is no change to budget amounts, click, "The budget amounts have been reviewed and approved," check box.
For private institutions, once the MCS budget is entered, the MTG budget fields will populate automatically with the same budget information. No further action is required in the MTG School Profile regarding the budget after MCS is updated.
If a budget is not entered by October 1, your 2026-27 Budget Information will be used for 2027-28 awards.
STATE BUDGETS FOR 2027-28
Fall Certification/Reimbursement Requests – September 30, 2026
The Fall 2026 certifications and reimbursements will become available September 30, 2026.
MI Future Educator Notes:
- The MI Future Educator Fellowship Confirmation of Eligibility roster and 2026-27 Commitment to Teach in Michigan Agreement (CTMA) will be available September 1, 2026.
- As of September 1, 2026, nonpublic schools are now included as student teaching placement sites on the MI Future Educator Stipend application. If a student does not see a specific nonpublic school listed on the application, please email the name of the nonpublic school to MiLEAP-MiFutureEducators@Michigan.gov. The Program Coordinator will verify if the school meets the definition of a qualifying nonpublic and, if it does, will add this nonpublic school to the Stipend application.
- The MI Future Educator Fellowship Reimbursement roster will be available on September 30, 2026. Payments will be issued quarterly beginning November 18, 2026.
- The MI Future Educator Stipend Fall Certification roster will be available on September 1, 2026. Payments will be issued monthly from October 14, 2026 through August 11, 2027.
Clear Ineligible Reasons
MiSSG School Users should be accessing MiSSG to review the “Clear Ineligible Reasons” and to update ineligible student records for Academic Year 2026-27, if applicable. The “Clear Ineligible Reasons” can be located in the MiSSG menu for each State financial aid program.
Identity Verification Reminder
If a student has a FAFSA with Reject Codes 74 or 75, the student will be ineligible for all State financial aid programs (unless the institution has successfully verified the student’s identity). This guidance is in accordance with Federal Student Aid’s Electronic Announcement: APP-26-03.
If the institution successfully completes identity verification and submits a FAFSA correction, the institution must also notify the Office of Higher Education to request removal of the administrative override. Once the new transaction has loaded in MiSSG, submit your request to Jessica Hamelink at HamelinkJ@Michigan.gov.
Helpful Resources
Check out the 2026-27 State Programs Procedures Manual
See previous GovDelivery Messages.
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