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 21 to return to school; students can apply for Michigan Reconnect today.
LCC Tuition-Free* for In-District Residents
The State of Michigan will offer in-district residents 21 years of age or older without a college degree an opportunity to attend community college tuition-free*. To qualify for free tuition* applicants must qualify for in-district tuition at 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 21 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.
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New Students
- 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 Office 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.
Current & Returning 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 517-483-1200 option 4 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 1 for support.
Special Note for Returning LCC Students
- If your student account/email is locked, call the LCC Help Desk for assistance at 517-483-5221 or email lcc1@lcc.edu.
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- Complete the MI Reconnect Application
- Complete the FAFSA (LCC School Code: 002278)
- If attending LCC during the fall 2022 through summer 2023 semester, complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA
- If attending LCC during the fall 2023 through summer 2024 semester, complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA
- Apply to Lansing Community College and complete admissions steps
- Be a Michigan resident
- Applicant must have maintained continuous Michigan residency for at least the preceding year.
- Be 21 years of age or older at the time of application
- Applicant may be in default on a federal loan or owe a Title IV overpayment and still be considered for Reconnect
- 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 one credit toward a financial aid eligible degree or certificate
program
- An aid eligible program is any program which grants an associate degree and any certificate program of at least 16 credits in length
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For renewal of their scholarship, a Reconnect participant must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually for each academic year. Academic years begin with fall semester and end with summer semester. You must submit a renewal FAFSA prior to the beginning of each academic year that you intend to enroll.
- Maintain Michigan residency.
- Beginning Fall 2023, continuous enrollment will no longer be a requirement. The minimum enrollment requirement has been removed and students can be eligible as long as they are enrolled in courses counting towards their program of study within a financial aid eligible program. Students will instead, be required to earn 12 credits per academic year to continue MI Reconnect eligibility.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in the courses taken toward the program of study while MI Reconnect participants. Grades earned prior to the student’s participation in MI Reconnect and courses taken that are not part of the program of study are not considered.
Note: A student's 12 month period begins each academic year. Students will be reviewed at the conclusion of each academic year. Students are a participant if they received a MI Reconnect award or if they met all eligibility requirements but did not receive a MI Reconnect award due to other resources covering their in-district tuition and mandatory fees.
Michigan Reconnect FAQ
Which FAFSA do I need to complete?
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Complete FAFSA at studentaid.gov
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Students must complete a FAFSA for each academic year. The academic year begins with fall semester and ends with summer semester. Both LCC and the State of Michigan must have record of the completed FAFSA. The FAFSA is available for the next academic year on October 1.
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Fall 2021 through Summer 2022, complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA
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Fall 2022 through Summer 2023, complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA
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Fall 2023 through Summer 2024, complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA
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Fall 2024 through Summer 2025, complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA
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Do I need to maintain a certain GPA to continue to receive Reconnect?
Yes. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in the courses taken toward the program of study while Reconnect participants. Grades earned prior to the student’s participation in Reconnect and courses taken that are not part of the program of study are not considered.
How many credits must I take to be eligible for an award?
The student must be enrolled in at least one credit counting toward program completion in a financial aid eligible program of study (CPoS eligible credits) to be eligible for an award. This minimum applies to fall, spring and summer semesters.
What is my 12-month period?
Student's 12 month period begins with their first semester as a Reconnect participant. This information can be found on a student's Banner Self-Service account under the General Information tab (you will need to select an aid year to view this status).
Students are a participant if they received a Reconnect award or if they met all eligibility requirements but did not receive a Reconnect award due to other resources covering their in-district tuition and mandatory fees. Example: Students who began in Summer 2021 will be monitored for GPA and semesters of attendance at the end of Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.
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 state tuition-restricted scholarships or awards must be applied before Reconnect funding. The following are examples of how Reconnect and Federal Pell Grant are awarded.
$1,609 In-District Tuition
- $2,000 Federal Pell Grant
$ 0 Reconnect-or-
$1,609 In-District Tuition
- $1,000 Federal Pell Grant
$ 609 ReconnectWill course/lab fees be covered by Reconnect?
Yes, Reconnect will cover course fees that apply toward the program of study.
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 Reconnect 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 will have to pay $936 in tuition if enrolled for 8-billing hours and paying out-of-district (in-state) tuition. In-district tuition is $936 ($117 x 8) and out-of-district (in-state) is $1872 ($234 x 8). Therefore, the student’s out-of-pocket cost are $936 ($1872 - $936).
Can my Federal Pell Grant or other tuition-restricted scholarships or grants cover the out-of-district (in-state) portion of my cost since Reconnect 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. An example of the required calculation is below.
Out-of-District (In-State) Tuition $3,013
$1,609 In-District Portion of Total Tuition
- $2,000 Federal Pell Grant
$ 0 Reconnect$3,013 Total Tuition
- $2,000 Federal Pell Grant
$1,013 Out-of-Pocket CostsIf I do not meet the renewal eligibility requirements, can Reconnect be reinstated in future years?
If a student loses eligibility for continuous enrollment, they may be eligible to complete a Leave of Absence/Continued Eligibility Appeal. Please contact financialaid@star.lcc.edu to receive additional information about the appeal process.
Once a student loses their scholarship eligibility for not meeting the GPA requirement, not beginning participation on time, or earning an Associate’s degree; the award cannot be reinstated. Please see Renewal Requirements above.
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 a payment plan or pay in full.
Does Reconnect pay for remedial or developmental education courses?
Yes, as long as the student is pursuing a financial aid eligible program. An aid eligible program is any program which grants an associate degree and any certificate program of at least 16 credits in length. Please visit Remedial or Developmental Education Courses for more details.
Can I use Reconnect 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. Please visit Financial Aid Policies.
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 Reconnect?
Yes, students in default on a federal loan are able to receive Reconnect.
Can I receive Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners (F4F) at the same time?
No, students cannot receive funds from both programs.
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 1
Email: MichiganReconnect@lcc.edu