Achieve a College Degree or Certificate
Now is the time to enroll at a community college to achieve an associate degree or certificate to advance your education and career. The MI Reconnect Program will provide tuition assistance for Michigan Residents over the age of 25 to return to school; students can begin classes with this program as early as the summer 2021 semester.
Summer 2021 semester
- Registration opens March 29
- Classes begin May 17
Fall 2021 semester
- Registration opens May 10
LCC Tuition-Free* for In-District Residents
The State of Michigan will offer in-district residents 25 years of age or older without a college degree an opportunity to attend community college tuition-free*. To qualify for free tuition* applicants must live in-district for Lansing Community College (LCC), have been a Michigan resident for more than one year, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and apply to LCC.
*The student will still be responsible for course fees and books.
Reduced Tuition at LCC for Out-of-District Residents
Michigan residents over the age of 25 without a college degree can attend LCC at a reduced tuition cost. The MI Reconnect program will pay for tuition at the in-district rate; the student is responsible for the remaining tuition balance (difference between in-district and out-of-district rate), course fees and books. To qualify, applicants must have been a Michigan resident for more than one year, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and apply to LCC.
To qualify for the program, you must:
- Complete the MI Reconnect Application
- Complete FAFSA (LCC School Code: 002278)
- To attend LCC during the summer 2021 semesters, complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA
- To attend LCC during the fall 2021 or spring 2022 semester, complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA
- Apply to Lansing Community College and complete admissions steps
- Be a Michigan resident for at least 12 months
- Be 25 years of age or older at the time of application
- Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Meet federal financial aid eligibility requirements (except for Satisfactory Academic Progress and being in default on a federal loan)
- Have a high school diploma, certificate of completion, or earned a high school equivalency certificate
- Have not previously earned an associate or baccalaureate degree
- Enroll in at least 6 credits toward a financial aid eligible degree or certificate program
- Begin classes within 12 months from the date the application was approved by the State of Michigan
-
Current LCC Students
If you are already enrolled in LCC classes, you are a current student. Complete the checklist below to apply for the MI Reconnect Program:
- Apply for the MI Reconnect Program through the State of Michigan
- Complete your FAFSA Application (be sure to check your LCC email weekly for communications from the Financial Aid Office)
- Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor by calling 517-483-1904 or visit www.lcc.edu/advising for additional advising options.
- Register for courses and sign-up for a payment plan. Call 517-483-1200, option 7 for support.
-
Returning LCC Students
If you have attended LCC in the past but have not recently taken classes, you are a returning student. Complete the checklist below to apply for the MI Reconnect Program:
- Apply for the MI Reconnect Program through the State of Michigan
- Complete your FAFSA Application (be sure to check your LCC email weekly for communications from the Financial Aid Office)
- Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor by calling 517-483-1904 or visit www.lcc.edu/advising for additional advising options.
- If your student account/email is locked, call the LCC Help Desk for assistance at 517-483-5221 or email lcc1@lcc.edu.
- If you have an outstanding balance from taking classes in the past, you may qualify to have the balance forgiven. Contact the LCC Student Finance Office to learn more.
- Register for courses and sign-up for a payment plan. Call 517-483-1200, option 7 for support.
-
New Students
If you have never taken classes at LCC before, you are a new student. Complete the checklist below to apply for the MI Reconnect Program:
- Apply for the MI Reconnect Program through the State of Michigan
- Complete your FAFSA Application
- Apply to LCC, complete the enrollment steps and contact the Admissions & Student Engagement Team for personalized admissions assistance.
Once you apply, you will have an LCC student account and email; be sure to check your LCC email weekly for important communications from the LCC Financial Aid Office.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Facebook Live with the Admissions and Student Engagement Team
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Facebook Live with the Admissions and Student Engagement Team
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Facebook Live with the Admissions and Student Engagement Team
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Facebook Live with the Admissions and Student Engagement Team
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Facebook Live with the Admissions and Student Engagement Team
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Michigan Reconnect FAQ
General Information
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
Which FAFSA do I need to complete?
- 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.
Do I need to maintain a certain GPA to continue to receive Reconnect?
Yes, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 in the courses that apply toward their declared program of study
How many credits must I take to be eligible for an award?
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.
Can I receive Reconnect and other financial aid in the same semester?
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 $ 600Will course/lab fees be covered by Reconnect?
No, Reconnect only covers mandatory fees, which are the Registration Fee and the Student Support Fee.
I have an outstanding balance. Can I register and use Reconnect funds?
Yes, you will need to contact the Student Finance Office at 517-483-1272 or via email at student.finance@lcc.edu.
I pay out-of-district (in-state) tuition. Will my Reconnect Scholarship cover my tuition?
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)
Can my Federal Pell Grant or other tuition-restricted scholarships or grants cover the out-of-district (in-state) portion of my cost since my Reconnect Scholarship will only cover the in-district portion?
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 $1260If I do not meet the renewal eligibility requirements, can my Reconnect scholarship be reinstated in future years?
No, once a student loses their scholarship, the award cannot be reinstated.
Do I need to sign-up for a Payment Plan?
Yes, students without enough financial aid to cover their balance due are required to sign up for the payment plan or pay in full.
Does Reconnect Scholarship pay for remedial or developmental education courses?
Yes, as long as the student is pursuing a financial aid eligible program.
Can I use my scholarship to earn more than one certificate during the 4-year eligibility period?
No, it can only be used for one certificate.
How many times can I repeat a course and use Reconnect funds?
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.
Can I change my program of study?
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.
If I am in default on a federal loan, can I receive a Reconnect Scholarship?
Yes, students in default on a federal loan are able to receive the Reconnect Scholarship.

Contact Us
LCC MI Reconnect Team
For questions or assistance with the MI Reconnect Program as it relates to Lansing Community College, please contact our LCC MI Reconnect Team!
Phone: 517 483-1200 option 7
Email: MichiganReconnect@lcc.edu