Michigan Reconnect

The Reconnect Scholarship is a program that covers in-district tuition and mandatory fees for Michiganders who are 25 or older without a college degree. The intent of the scholarship is to help Michigan residents achieve an associate degree or certificate to advance their educational or career goals. To apply for the scholarship, visit Michigan.gov/Reconnect. In addition to completing the application, the applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year
• Meet federal financial aid eligibility requirements (except for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and being in default on a federal loan)
• Be a Michigan resident by maintaining continuous Michigan residency for at least 12 months
  • If parent data is not required on the FAFSA (an independent student per federal regulations), the residency is based on the student's residency.
  • If parent data is required on the FAFSA (a dependent student per federal regulations), the residency is based on the parent's residency.
• Be 25 years of age or older at the time of application (Note: If the Michigander is not 25 at the time of application, the applicant can re-apply.)
• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Have graduated from high school with a diploma, certificate of completion, or earned a high school equivalency certificate
• Not have previously earned an associate or baccalaureate degree

The Reconnect Scholarship covers in-district tuition only and mandatory fees (Registration Fee and Student Support Fee). Students must enroll at least half-time in courses that apply toward the declared program of study and must begin classes within 12 months from the date the application was approved by the State of Michigan.

After the student's initial semester of attendance, the student must meet the following renewal eligibility requirements to continue receiving the Reconnect Scholarship.

• Complete the FAFSA annually for each academic year
• Maintain Michigan residency
• Maintain continuous enrollment as at least a half-time student in a financial aid eligible program. Continuous enrollment means enrolled in at least 2 semesters during each 12-month period, which begins at the start of the student's first semester as a Reconnect scholarship participant.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 in the courses that apply toward the declared program of study

A student can continue to receive the Reconnect scholarship until one of the following happens, whichever occurs first:

• Student earns an associate degree, or
• Four years have passed from the first semester the student became a Reconnect participant, or
• Student fails to meet one or more of the renewal eligibility requirements

• Complete FAFSA at studentaid.gov
• If attending in Summer 2021, complete the 2020-21 FAFSA
• If attending Fall 2021, Spring 2022 or Summer 2022, complete the 2021-22 FAFSA
• Students must complete a FAFSA for each academic year. Both LCC and the State of Michigan must have record of the completed FAFSA.

Yes, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 in the courses that apply toward their declared program of study

The student must be registered in at least 6 credits that count towards the declared program of study to be eligible for an award. This minimum applies to fall, spring and summer semesters.

Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship, which means the Federal Pell Grant and tuition-restricted scholarships or awards must be applied before Reconnect funding. The following are examples of how Reconnect and Federal Pell Grant are awarded.

In-District Tuition $ 1380
Federal Pell Grant $ 1500
Reconnect $ 0

-or-

In-District Tuition $ 1380
Federal Pell Grant $ 780
Reconnect $ 600

No, Reconnect only covers mandatory fees, which are the Registration Fee and the Student Support Fee.

Yes, you will need to contact the Student Finance Office at 517-483-1272 or via email at student.finance@lcc.edu.

No, Reconnect only covers in-district tuition costs. Students will have to pay the difference between the in-district and out-of-district (in-state) tuition. For example, a student enrolled in 8-billing hours will have to pay $888 for the out-of-district (in-state) tuition. In-district tuition is $888 (111 x 8) and out-of-district (in-state) is $1776 ($222 x 8). Therefore, the student's out-of-pocket cost are $888 ($1776 - $888)

No. The State of Michigan rules will not allow colleges to award students Reconnect funding if Federal Pell Grant and/or other tuition-restricted scholarships or grants is greater than or equal to the in-district tuition and mandatory fees (Registration and Student Support fees). An example of the required calculation is below.

Out-of-District (In-State) Tuition $2760
In-District Portion of Total Tuition $1380
Federal Pell Grant $1500
Reconnect $0
Total Tuition $2760
Federal Pell Grant $1500
Reconnect $0
Out-of-Pocket Costs $1260

No, once a student loses their scholarship, the award cannot be reinstated.

Yes, students without enough financial aid to cover their balance due are required to sign up for the payment plan or pay in full.

Yes, as long as the student is pursuing a financial aid eligible program.

No, it can only be used for one certificate.

Reconnect follows the federal financial aid rules on repeating coursework. Federal rules allow a student to repeat a passed course only one additional time and a failed course multiple times until passed.

Yes, a student may change to another financial aid eligible certificate or associate degree program. Students may not receive Reconnect funding after earning an associate degree.

Yes, students in default on a federal loan are able to receive the Reconnect Scholarship.