Announce New Deadline for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply Through the Tuition-Free Community College Program

Deadline Extended to December 31 for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply for Michigan Reconnect

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced a new deadline for adults ages 21 to 24 who have not yet earned a college degree to enroll in Michigan Reconnect, the tuition-free community college scholarship program, traditionally limited to those 25 and older. The department made the announcement and celebrated the impact of Michigan Reconnect at an event at the Oakland Community College (OCC) Auburn Hills campus during the college’s welcome week.

“Extending the deadline for Michigan Reconnect gives prospective and current students ages 21 to 24 more time to benefit from this limited-time opportunity,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “Reconnect is one example of how we are responding to the needs of our state – and a testament to our dedication to ensuring every individual has access to the necessary resources to secure their educational futures and pursue a path to prosperity.”

Michigan Reconnect, launched by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a bipartisan legislature in 2021, is the largest program in state history that allows students to earn a skill certificate or degree tuition-free at their local community college. Powered by $70 million in federal funding from the Biden-Harris administration, the Governor announced last October that the program would be temporarily expanded to include adults ages 21 to 24, opening the door for 350,000 more Michiganders to complete a skills certificate or degree.

MiLEAP was joined by OCC officials, leaders from Oakland80, a Reconnect graduate and others today to announce that students now have until Dec. 31, 2024, to apply. In order to receive the Michigan Reconnect scholarship, students ages 21 to 24 will need to enroll and begin their coursework by their college’s upcoming summer semester in 2025.

“Oakland Community College has more than 5,500 students, age 25 and older, who currently take advantage of the Michigan Reconnect program to finish their degree,” said OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr. “This program has made such a positive difference in their lives. Extending the program for 21- to 24-year-olds provides great opportunity and incentive to return to college, reach their academic goals and increase their earning potential much earlier.”

Since the program’s initial launch, 177,000 Michiganders have applied for Michigan Reconnect and are taking their first step toward a college degree, helping Michigan make progress toward the state’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from the current level of 51.1% to 60% by 2030. The state has seen significant interest in Reconnect among students 21 to 24, with over 23,000 applications and more than 5,000 students already enrolled in Michigan’s community and Tribal colleges. Over 700 students at OCC are currently participating in the Reconnect expansion.

“At Oakland County, we recognize the importance of postsecondary education in achieving economic opportunity and social mobility. In 2020, in response to Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, we set a goal to have 80% of adult residents in our county earn a postsecondary degree or certified training certificate by 2030,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “The Michigan Reconnect deadline extension, announced today with MiLEAP and Chancellor Provenzano, will provide more residents access to educational opportunities that lead to in-demand careers and family sustaining wages, contributing to a highly skilled, diverse workforce in our region and beyond.”

Reconnect graduate Kelly Thalmann shared that the program’s impact on her life was greater than just the financial support she received to earn her degree.

“Beyond the financial resources, Michigan Reconnect gave me something that I had not gotten before – support. They helped me every step of the way, from understanding the financial aid process to everything else I needed to earn my degree,” said Kelly Thalmann. “The first time I tried to go to college I didn’t get any help, and it didn’t go well. More than a decade later when I returned to school, I had the support of Michigan Reconnect and that made the difference. It made such an impact on my journey that now I am an admissions specialist at OCC, giving others the same kind of support that helped me!”

Michiganders who are 21 to 24 years old and not already participating in Michigan Reconnect must complete these steps to take advantage of this limited-time scholarship: 

1. Apply for the Michigan Reconnect scholarship at Michigan.gov/Reconnect by Dec. 31, 2024. 
2. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
3. Apply and enroll in a community or tribal college no later than the summer semester 2025.

Already enrolled students should contact their college’s Financial Aid Office for additional information on applying the Reconnect Scholarship to their tuition bill and filing a FAFSA. 

Individuals needing support should look no further than the state’s network of Michigan Reconnect Navigators, who are actively working with over 50,000 Michigan Reconnect applicants to guide them on their path to a college degree or skills certificate, including a dedicated three Reconnect Navigators assigned to support 21- to 24-year-olds. Navigators help students apply for federal student aid, set career goals, select a program of study, register for classes and create a graduation plan.

Every Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. and Thursday from 5-7 p.m., members of the Michigan Reconnect Navigator team host online office hours to provide one-on-one support to Michigan Reconnect students to answer questions about the program and are specially trained to help with completing their FAFSA.

Learn more about earning a degree or certificate tuition-free through Michigan Reconnect at Michigan.gov/Reconnect. 

About MiLEAP:
Established by Gov. Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can “make it in Michigan” with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.

About OCC 
Offering nearly 100 degrees and certificates, OCC is Michigan’s largest multi-campus community college and top transfer institution in the state. The College provides academic and career training and enriching experiences; to empower students to reach their potential and enhance our community. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. A seven-person Board of Trustees governs OCC. Board members are elected on a non-partisan, at-large basis, serve as volunteers and are not paid. Mission statement: OCC is committed to empowering our students to succeed and advancing our community. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.

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