Michigan Students Receive More Than 25,000 College Admission Offers Through MI College Match

Statewide direct-admission initiative has generated more than $1 billion in scholarship opportunities, with additional offers still expected

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan students participating in MI College Match have now received 25,252 college admission offers and more than $1.274 billion in scholarship opportunities, providing thousands of students with unprecedented access to college options without having to complete a single college application.

The statewide direct-admission initiative connects Michigan high school students with participating colleges and universities based on their academic achievements, interests, preferences and other information provided through the MI College Match platform.

MI College Match opened to Michigan students on August 26. Students who completed their profiles by September 21 were eligible for the initial release of admission offers on October 5. 

On average, participating students have received 14 college offers, and all have received at least one offer of admission, giving students and their families the opportunity to explore a broad range of postsecondary options and compare admission and scholarship opportunities.

MI COLLEGE MATCH BY THE NUMBERS

● 25,252 — college admission offers sent

● $1.274 billion — total scholarship opportunities offered

● 14 — average number of offers per student

● 26 — participating Michigan colleges and universities

● 350+ — Michigan high schools connected through College Bound Michigan

Each offer letter included either the Michigan Achievement Scholarship or the Community College Guarantee, demonstrating the stateʼs investment and dedication to college access through affordability.

“An admission offer is an invitation to see yourself in college, and affordability is essential to turning that invitation into an opportunity,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffe, executive director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. “By including information about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee with every MI College Match offer, we are making sure students and families know that financial support is available. This is about connecting Michigan students with both the opportunity to attend college and the resources that can help make that postsecondary education affordable.”

MI College Match is a partnership between Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), EAB and participating Michigan higher education institutions. Powered by EAB’s Match technology, the program is designed to expand educational opportunity by allowing participating colleges to proactively identify students who may be a good fit and extend admission and scholarship opportunities directly to them.

“These numbers demonstrate what is possible when we rethink the way students experience the college-going process,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network. “Rather than asking students to discover colleges on their own, complete an application and wait to find out if they are wanted, MI College Match flips the process. It puts colleges directly in front of students with a clear message: ʻWe see your potential, we want you here, and weʼre inviting you to take a closer look.ʼ

The program is embedded through MCANʼs College Bound Michigan which is active in more than 350 Michigan high schools across the state. College Bound Michigan is a year-long initiative supporting counselors and educators as they help students navigate the path to college.

Students participating in MI College Match create a profile containing information about their academic achievements, interests, college preferences and other attributes. Participating institutions then use those profiles to determine whether to extend admission and scholarship opportunities. The approach is designed to remove barriers students face when exploring higher education.

“An admission offer can change the conversation for a student and a family,” said Hope Krutz, president of EAB’s Enroll360 division. “When students learn that a college is interested in them before they’ve gone through a lengthy application process, they can begin thinking about college in a fundamentally different way.”

The initiative is particularly focused on expanding opportunities for students who may be less likely to pursue college, including students from low-income families, first-generation-college students, and students of color.

The current participating institutions are:

● Albion College

● Alma College

● Aquinas College

● Baker College

● Bay College

● Calvin University

● Cleary University

● Davenport University

● Grand Rapids Community College

● Grand Valley State University

● Great Lakes Christian College

● Kalamazoo College

● Lake Michigan College

● Lawrence Technological University

● Monroe County Community College

● Montcalm Community College
● Mott Community College

● North Central Michigan College

● Oakland University

● Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

● Schoolcraft College

● Spring Arbor University

● University of Detroit Mercy

● University of Michigan-Dearborn

● University of Michigan-Flint
● The University of Olivet

The participating institutions represent a diverse range of Michigan higher education options, including public universities, private colleges and universities, community colleges and tribal colleges.

MI College Match supports Michigan’s Sixty by 30 attainment goal, which seeks to have 60 percent of working-age adults earn a postsecondary credential or degree by 2030. By giving students admission opportunities earlier and reducing barriers associated with the traditional college application process, the program aims to help more Michigan students see themselves as college students and ultimately enroll in postsecondary education.

What Students Should Know Students who receive an MI College Match offer should carefully review the terms of each individual admission and scholarship offer. Scholarship opportunities may have specific eligibility, enrollment, academic-performance or renewal requirements. Students and families are encouraged to contact colleges directly to understand the full cost of attendance, financial-aid package, scholarship conditions and next steps for enrollment.

Students may continue creating profiles until June 1, 2027, and participating institutions will continue issuing offers on a monthly basis. With more than 25,000 offers already issued and additional institutions still preparing their offers, the statewide initiative is continuing to expand the number of college opportunities placed directly in front of Michigan students.

For more information about MI College Match, visit micollegematch.com.

About Michigan College Access Network

Since our founding in 2010, Michigan College Access Network has engaged with partners across the state to improve college access and success for all students. Our data-driven approach is focused on providing support where it is needed the most, particularly among students from low-income backgrounds, students who would be the first in their family to graduate college, and students of color. We believe in the power of higher education to improve individual lives, with positive effects that ripple out into their communities. We are committed to Michiganʼs Sixty by 30 attainment goal — 60% of residents earning a postsecondary certificate or degree by the year 2030 — in pursuit of a better future for all Michiganders. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.

About EAB

EAB partners with education institutions to drive transformative change through data-driven insights and technology. Its work spans enrollment, student success, institutional strategy, data analytics and advancement, helping educational institutions better serve students and communities.