The information about financial aid and scholarships can seem overwhelming but it is important to research all possible resources. Our Special Government Programs has basic information, links (where available) and telephone numbers for programs for special programs for select populations of students and funding opportunities for students who are willing to complete a service obligation.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Americorps
This program provides educational awards in return for work in community service. You can work before, during, or after your postsecondary educational, and you can use the funds either to pay current educational expenses or to repay federal student loans. Students with Americorps eligibility should certify their requests online at https://myamericorps.gov for faster processing of benefits.
R.O.T.C. Army (MILS 100 & 200 level classes taught at UM-Dearborn)
Army Officer Education Program
Army ROTC is a program which results in college graduates earning commissions as an officer in the active Army, National Guard or Army Reserves. High school and college students can apply for scholarship benefits through this program. College students must have at least two years remaining in their undergraduate or graduate degree. This program provides a full-tuition scholarship with an allowance for books and a monthly stipend. The Army R.O.T.C. program is headquartered at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a satellite program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. http://www.umich.edu/~armyrotc
R.O.T.C. Air Force
High school and college students can apply for scholarship benefits through this program. College students must have at least two years remaining in their undergraduate academic career. This program provides a full-tuition scholarship with an allowance for books and monthly stipend. The Air Force R.O.T.C. program is coordinated through the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
R.O.T.C. Navy and Marine
High school and college students can apply for scholarship benefits through this program. College students must have at least two years remaining in their undergraduate academic career. This program provides a full-tuition scholarship with an allowance for books and monthly stipend. The Navy and Marine R.O.T.C. program is coordinated through the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The Office of Enrollment Services provides the enrollment certification service for veterans benefits at UM-Dearborn. The office is located in 1169 UC (University Center). The telephone number is 313.583-6500.
Veterans Benefits: Montgomery/GI Bill (Chapter 30)
Eligible veterans can receive up to 36 months of educational stipends to be used within 10 years of release from active duty. Monthly benefits are prorated according to enrollment status. Some veterans may be eligible for additional benefit amounts based on the number of dependents.
Veterans Benefits: Montgomery/GI Bill—Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Members of the Selected Reserve may be eligible for a monthly educational stipend. Benefit amounts are prorated according to enrollment status.
Veterans Benefits: Montgomery/GI Bill—Activated Reserve (Chapter 1607)
A member of a reserve component who service on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10 U.S. Code for contingency operation and serves at least 90 consecutive days or more is eligible under chapter 1607.
Veterans Benefits: Veterans Educational Assistance Program—VEAP (Chapter 32)
VEAP benefits are available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this educational benefit program. The Government matched contributions from military pay on a $2 for $1 basis.
Veterans Benefits: Survivors’ and Dependents Educational Assistance Program-DEA (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to the eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. This program offers up to 45 months of educational stipend benefits.
Remarried surviving spouses who lost benefits upon remarriage may be eligible for reinstatement of benefits and should check with the Education Service of Veterans Affairs for additional information.
Veterans Benefits: Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
Veterans Rehabilitation and Employment Services provides assistance and services to veterans who have been determined to have an employment handicap or serious employment handicap. In addition to the creation of an individual vocational plan, the veteran can receive assistance in the form of full-tuition support, books and a monthly stipend. The monthly stipend is based on enrollment status and number of dependents.
Veterans Work Study
The Veterans Work Study program is available to any student receiving VA education benefits who is attending school at ¾-time or more. An individual working under this program may work at the school veterans’ office, VA Regional Office, VA Medical Facilities or at approved State employment offices. Work study students are paid at the state or Federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. Questions can be addressed by calling 888.442-4551.
Veterans Benefits: General Support
Tutorial assistance is available if you are receiving VA educational assistance at half-time or greater status and have a deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary. Questions on this program can be addressed by calling 888.442.4551.
Veterans should also remember that there are numerous resources available to them: home loans, disability compensation (non-educational), life insurance, burial benefits, hospital and medical benefits and counseling on debt management. Visit the GI Bill website for additional information.
STATE PROGRAMS
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Michigan Rehabilitation Services works with people with a wide range of disabilities. A person with a disability may be eligible for MRS services if the disability causes problems in preparing for, finding, or keeping a job. Educational assistance services can help with funds towards tuition and fees, books and supplies and transportation. Please contact the central office at 800.605-6722 to determine the MRS local office closest to you.
Michigan Educational and Training Voucher
The ETV program allows Michigan to provide up to $5,000 each year to youth in foster care on or after his/her 14th birthday because of neglect or abuse or former foster youth adopted from foster care on or after his/her 16th birthday. Youth must have a high school diploma or GED and enrolled prior to his/her 21st birthday. This program is administered by Lutheran Social Services 877.660-METV.
Youth in Transition Funding
Youth in Transition is a funding source available to cover expenses not covered by other government or community resources or to augment supplement services from other funding sources. Funding is available for Michigan youth who are active in the foster care systems, placed out of their home based on abuse and neglect from the age of 14 to 21. Funds are also available for Michigan youth ages 18-21 that have been in foster care on or after their 14th birthday but are no longer under Dept. of Human Services supervision.
Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI)
A partnership of foundation and Dept. of Human Services works to improve outcomes for foster youth as they age out of care. Focus is on: education, employment, housing, transportation, health and social and community engagement.
Michigan Foster Youth in Transition Web site
This Web site created with the help of foster youth in Michigan provides a wealth of information about resources available to foster youth as well as information about obtaining vital documents, health, transportation, legal issues and the opportunity to get involved with other foster youth and foster youth alumni.
Michigan Commission for the Blind
The Michigan Commission for the Blind provides educational, training and rehabilitation opportunities to persons who are blind. Educational support can provide funds towards tuition and fees and books. Please contact the local Detroit Office at 313.456-1646 or the Central Lansing Office at 800.292-4200 (toll free for the lower peninsula) for additional information.
Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
This is a high school completion incentive program that offers to pay for the first two years of college and beyond for identified students who graduate from high school or complete their GEO before age 20. Eligible students are identified by the Family Independence Agency (FIA) based on the receipt of Medicaid coverage for 24 of 36 consecutive months.
Benefits differ from a Phase I and Phase II school. At a Phase I school, all tuition within a certain dollar amount is coverage for up to 80 semester hours. Usually, but not always, a Phase I school is a community college. Phase II benefits pay $500 each term for up to four semesters of half-time enrollment. The University of Michigan-Dearborn is a Phase II school.
To qualify to use Phase II benefits, a student must have earned at least 56 credit hours (transferred from a Phase I school) or in residence at UM-Dearborn or earned an associate’s degree. Michigan TIP recipients must meet the UM-Dearborn requirements for satisfactory academic progress, be enrolled at least half-time and cannot be in default on any federal educational loan. Please call 888.447-2687 for additional information.
Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver
Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver provides tuition assistance (not fees) for qualifying Native Americans who are Michigan residents attending pubic colleges and universities in Michigan. Eligible students must have not less than ¼ blood Indian as certified by the applicants’ tribal affiliation and must be a legal resident of the state of Michigan for not less than twelve consecutive months.
The Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Application is available online and can be printed, completed and submitted with documentation to the appropriate Tribal Enrollment Department. Applicants are reminded to keep a copy of their application.
Additional information can be obtained by calling 800.562-4957 and requesting to speak to the MITW Coordinator or at 906.632-6896, #136.
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program
The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program offers a Tuition Grant to assistance to the children of Michigan veterans who were killed while in service, died as a result of service-related disabilities, or is considered 100% disabled because of service-connected disabilities. The child must a Michigan resident between the ages of 16 and 25. Upon admission to a Michigan institution of higher learning, may be eligible for a Tuition Grant of up to $2800 each academic year for full-time undergraduate study (amounts are prorated for less than full-time enrollment.) Students must maintain a 2.25 or higher cumulative grade point average. Inquiries can be directed to 888-447-2687.
Police Officer and Fire Fighter Survivor Tuition Act
Tuition at public educational institutions can be waived for eligible survivors enrolled in classes leading to a degree or certificate. The applicant must be a spouse or a child (adopted or natural) of a Michigan police officer or fire fighter who was killed in the line of duty. A child must be less than age 21 at the time of death of the police officer or firefighter and apply for benefits for the first time before the age of 21. Approved survivors can enroll full- or part-time and meet the need threshold established (no more than 400% above poverty level without the inclusion of death benefits).
