Detroit City Wire

Grand Valley State University is offering free tuition for low-income students in Kent, Ottawa, Calhoun, Muskegon, Grand Traverse and Wayne counties, the university announced recently, according to Bridge Michigan.

Students from families who earn under $50,000 annually and reside one of the six counties can access free tuition for four years at GVSU, thanks a new program called the Grand Valley Pledge. Approximately 40% of GVSU’s student body lives in the counties selected for the Grand Valley Pledge, and 47 percent of homes in those counties have incomes under the tuition assistance threshold.

In addition, students from low-income families qualify for federal Pell Grants, which cover $6,195 per year in college costs for students whose families make $26,000 or less; students whose families earn up to $60,000 also qualify for smaller Pell grants. The Grand Valley Pledge guarantees that the school’s in-state tuition of roughly $13,500 will be completely covered for low-income students.

Tuition and class fees are the only costs covered by this pledge, however. For example, Grand Valley’s website estimates total annual costs for in-state students living on campus would be more than $26,000, with tuition and fees accounting for about half of that. The Grand Valley Pledge won’t eliminate all costs, but it could shave a few thousand dollars off the price tag.

The program will start in fall 2021, and about 300 potential students who have applied for admission in the fall would qualify for the program.

"This is a great start to eliminating equity gaps (in enrollment) at GVSU,” said B. Donta Truss, vice president for enrollment, development and educational outreach at Grand Valley, according to Bridge Michigan. “By removing financial barriers to college, deserving students can enroll and be ready to start their path to a degree. Our students from low-income families still have (financial) gaps. This will help cover those gaps.”

The Grand Valley Pledge isn’t the only program designed to make college more affordable for Michigan students. Earlier this month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a free community college program for Michiganders over the age of 25. Other educational institutions, including the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, have offered free tuition for some students as well.