Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that Michiganders ages 21-24 can now apply for Michigan Reconnect, a tuition-free path to an associate degree or skills certificate at a local community or Tribal college. The program was previously limited to adults 25 and older.
More than 250,000 Michiganders have applied for Reconnect since it launched in 2021, and nearly 20,000 have graduated. According to the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, graduates earn a median wage of more than $13,000 above their pre-Reconnect wages one year after finishing, and $16,300 more by year two.
The expansion is funded through a $25 million investment in the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 education budget.
“Michigan Reconnect is one of the biggest investments we’ve made to help Michiganders afford the education and training they need to get ahead, and now thousands more adults ages 21 through 24 can benefit,” Whitmer said.
Michiganders can learn more and apply at Michigan.gov/Reconnect. The application takes about five minutes.
