State Grants and Scholarships

All students who are applying for a state-funded grant and/or scholarship are encouraged to read KVCC's Terms and Conditions by accessing our website at www.kvcc.edu/financial, then Terms and Conditions.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship - New!

The State of Michigan has announced the new Michigan Achievement Scholarship for new freshmen entering Kalamazoo Valley Community College for the fall of 2023. This scholarships can provide up to $2,750 a year in support.

Eligibility:

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is for first-year undergraduate students who are admitted to a degree program.
You must be a Michigan resident since July 1, 2022. If you are a dependent student, your parent(s) must have been a Michigan resident since July 1, 2022.
Graduate from high school in Michigan or receive a certificate of completion / high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after and enroll within 15 months.
Students must file the FAFSA and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $25,000 or less.
Requires minimum full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester) in a degree program.

70% of MI High School Seniors are Eligible.

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) is an incentive program that encourages eligible students to complete high school by providing tuition assistance for the first two years of college and beyond. To meet the financial eligibility requirement, a student must have (or have had) Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36-consecutive month period as identified by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). TIP provides assistance in two phases. Phase I covers tuition and mandatory fee charges (does not pay for contact hours) for eligible students enrolled in a credit-based associate degree or minimum one year certificate program at a participating Michigan community college, public university, degree-granting independent college, federal tribally-controlled college, or Focus: HOPE. Phase II provides a maximum of $2,000 total tuition assistance for credits earned in a four-year program at an in-state, degree-granting college or university. Award parameters are subject to legislative changes.

Students are identified by DHS as having met the Medicaid eligibility requirement. After being identified, Student Scholarship and Grants (SSG) will send the student an acceptance form. The student must then complete the acceptance form and return it to SSG before graduation from high school or GED completion and must graduate before their 20th birthday to activate financial eligibility for the program. SSG will send the student a reminder notification during their senior year of high school. The student is responsible for notifying SSG of a change of address or college choice through the MISSG Student Portal or by phone.

NOTE: Students are now required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.

A student can only receive TIP benefits at one institution per semester. Eligibility requirements include the following:

Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien with permanent status
Must be a resident of Michigan (according to College policy)
Must have a high school diploma or GED
Must enroll in an academic degree, academic certificate or transfer program
Must obtain a high school diploma, certificate of completion or GED prior to age 20
Must be determined financially eligible by Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) prior to high school graduation
Must enroll at least half-time (6 credit hours or more)
Must initiate TIP funds within four years (48 months) of high school graduation or GED completion
Must not be in default on a Federal Title IV loan
Must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress

To apply for TIP at KVCC, students must submit the following documents to the Financial Aid Office:

Copy of high school diploma or GED
Complete KVCC Intent Form (This must be completed each semester to have your TIP award authorized to your account.)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Additional information about the Tuition Incentive Program can be found at TIP Fact Sheet.
Students must utilize TIP funding within 6 years of their high school graduation date. Once Phase II TIP funds have been initiated at a 4 year institution, the student is no longer eligible for Phase I TIP funds. Future TIP awards are subject to availability and approved funding from the State of Michigan.

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

The State of Michigan has provided funds which permit tuition waivers for all Native Americans who can certify 25 percent or more Indian blood.

Steps to Apply for the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Program at KVCC:

Complete an Admissions Application to the College.
Read the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Application Instructions provided by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
You must submit the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Application to your Tribal Enrollment Department who will be certifying that you are 1/4 or more Native American blood quantum and are a certified member of a Federally recognized Tribe.
You will need to submit with your application, a photocopy of your Michigan Driver's License or State issued Michigan Identification Card and a photocopy of your Tribal ID.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights will review your application and prepare a verification letter which will be sent to you and KVCC.
Complete a KVCC Intent Form for each semester you are applying for this waiver (indicating you are applying for the State Indian Tuition Waiver). This is available in the Financial Aid Office or can be downloaded from our website at www.kvcc.edu/finaid, then go to Download Forms.
Once the Financial Aid Office receives verification from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and your KVCC Financial Aid Intent Form, you will be awarded the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver. This will pay for your tuition. You are responsible for any fees associated with your classes.

Michigan Competitive Scholarship Program

This program provides financial assistance to students who demonstrate both financial need and academic potential. Academic potential is based on the national ACT. Those eligible may receive up to the amount of demonstrated financial need or the amount of tuition, whichever is less, not to exceed $1,000 per academic year. Eligibility requirements include the following:

Achieve a qualifying score based on the national ACT. This test should be taken in the junior or senior year of high school.
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or an approved refugee
Have been a continuous Michigan resident from July 1 of the year preceding the academic year for which the student is applying for the scholarship
Demonstrate financial need, based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); list Kalamazoo Valley Community College (school code: 006949) as your first school on the FAFSA
Enroll at least half-time (6 credit hours or more)
Must have a high school diploma or GED
Have not completed a Bachelor's degree
Not be in default on a Federal Title IV loan
Not incarcerated
Not pursing a degree in theology or religious education

Students must submit a copy of their High School Diploma or GED to the Financial Aid Office.

Awards can be renewed annually for a maximum of ten semesters within ten years of high school graduation, as long as the applicant meets the following:

Demonstrates financial need, according to the annual FAFSA
Maintains Michigan residency and undergraduate student status
Meets satisfactory academic progress as defined by Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Meets all other program eligibility requirements

Futures for Frontliners

Futures for Frontliners is a state scholarship program for Michiganders without college degrees who worked in essential industries during the state COVID-19 shutdown in spring 2020 (April 1 - June 30). This scholarship provides these frontline workers with tuition-free access to local community college to pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate, either full-time or part-time while you work.

Thinking about going back to school? Choose the path that's right for you:

Start at your local community college and earn a skill certificate or associate degree.
Complete your high school diploma or equivalent and continue onto college.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a Michigan resident
Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 - June 30, 2020
Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 - June 30, 2020
Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor's degree
Not be in default on a Federal student loan
Complete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 pm on December 31, 2020

*Futures for Frontliners will pay only in-district tuition rates and mandatory fees for students registered in at least 6 credit hours.

Michigan Reconnect

If you are 25 or older, and you've been thinking about going back to school to pursue your associate degree or a skills certificate, now might be the time. To apply for Reconnect go to https://www.michigan.gov/reconnect/.

To be eligible, you must:

Be at least 25 years old when you apply
Have lived in Michigan for a year or more
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Have not yet completed a college degree (associate or bachelor's)

*Mi Reconnect will pay only in-district tuition rates and mandatory fees for students registered in at least 6 credit hours.