MARQUETTE – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential recently mailed more than 187,000 letters to Michigan students and their families notifying them of their eligibility for the Tuition Incentive Program. TIP, a long-standing state scholarship program, provides tuition support for eligible Medicaid recipients pursuing skill certificates, associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees at participating Michigan colleges and universities.

“Every Michigan student deserves a clear path to pursue higher education,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “By alerting students and their families to TIP eligibility, we are ensuring they know early that tuition support is available to them. Programs like TIP help students make informed decisions about their future and take meaningful steps toward earning a credential while building a future right here in Michigan.”

In February, MiLEAP sent letters to two groups of students, tailoring guidance based on their age and stage in their educational journey: 

• 11-12th graders: These students received letters confirming their TIP eligibility and outlining how the program can help cover tuition for skills certificates, associate degrees, and, later, bachelor’s degrees. The letters also described important next steps, such as completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), listing the Michigan college or university they plan to attend, and creating a MiSSG Student Portal account to monitor eligibility and awards. 

• Early awareness students: The families of students, sometimes as young as 12, who meet Medicaid eligibility requirements received letters introducing TIP and encouraging early exploration of interests, extracurricular activities and career pathways. These letters also highlighted planning tools, like Pathfinder, and emphasized the importance of talking with trusted adults–family members, teachers and counselors–about educational goals. 

Both letters aim to give students and families a head start in planning their postsecondary journey and accessing the resources available to them.