More than 17,000 students have already entered for a chance to win up to $50,000 in education funds by completing the 2025-26 FAFSA

LANSING, Mich. – With less than two weeks remaining, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is encouraging students across the state to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) and enter to win their share of nearly $1 million through the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes before the final deadline. So far, more than 17,000 Michigan students have entered for a chance to win one of forty $10,000 prizes or ten $50,000 prizes by completing the FAFSA for the 2025-26 academic year.

“Right now is a critical moment for Michigan students,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “We’re down to the final two weeks of the sweepstakes and every FAFSA completed represents a door opening to college, to a training program or to another life-changing opportunity. On top of that, students have the chance to win up to $50,000 to pursue their education. That’s a powerful boost for any learner, especially as so many are making important decisions about what comes next. To every student out there, don’t miss this opportunity. Take the step, complete your FAFSA and get the support you need to build the future you deserve.”

Launched by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes is designed to encourage FAFSA completion and connect students to resources that make college or skills training more affordable and accessible. By completing the FAFSA, students are also gaining access to valuable federal and state programs, including:

• Pell Grants
• The Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee, which offers recent high school graduates the chance to earn a skill certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree at reduced or no-cost tuition.
• Michigan Reconnect, which allows adults ages 25 and older to attend their local community college tuition-free.

“As schools across Michigan celebrate Decision Day and the achievements of their high school seniors, we want to remind them of the tremendous opportunity the Ticket to Tuition contest provides for 50 students to take home up to $50,000 for college and career training,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director at MCAN. “Ticket to Tuition highlights the transformative power of FAFSA in creating affordable and accessible educational pathways, empowering Michigan students to take that critical next step toward college, career training, and a brighter future. By opening the door to financial aid opportunities at the federal, state, and local levels, the FAFSA helps remove barriers that too often stand between students and their aspirations, making higher education a real and achievable goal for families across the state.”

To enter the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes, students must:     

• Complete the FAFSA for the 2025–26 academic year, and     
• Text CASH to 855-50K-TICKET (855-505-8425) by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Eligible participants must be Michigan residents who are completing the FAFSA for the first time to use in the 2025–26 school year. Sweepstakes prizes will be awarded in Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) accounts and can be used for various qualified educational expenses including tuition, housing, books and more.

Students and families can complete the FAFSA online by visiting FAFSA.gov or by submitting a paper form. Most students and families can complete the application in less than 15 minutes.

For full contest details, visit TicketToTuition.com.