Western Wayne Today

Low-income students in six Michigan counties will be offered free tuition at Grand Valley State University through a new program, according to Bridge Michigan.

The program, called the Grand Valley Pledge, will bring free four-year tuition to students whose families earn under $50,000 a year. To qualify, students must reside in Kent, Ottawa, Calhoun, Muskegon, Grand Traverse or Wayne counties.

These counties make up roughly 40% of the university’s students. Approximately 47% of homes in the six counties earn under $50,000, making affordable tuition a necessity for the educational needs of those communities.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a new free community college program for Michigan residents 25 years of age and older. There have also been some recent free tuition programs available for students who qualify at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. 

B. Donta Truss, vice president of enrollment, development and education outreach at Grand Valley, said that by offering the free tuition, more low-income students will be able to take advantage of a college education. 

“Low-income students qualify for financial aid from federal Pell grants, which cover up to $6,195 a year in college costs for students in families with adjusted gross incomes of $26,000 or less. Students earning up to $60,000 qualify for smaller Pell grants,” explains Bridge Michigan.

Truss said that this is one of the best ways to remove equity gaps in the school’s enrollment. “By removing financial barriers to college, deserving students can enroll and be ready to start their path to a degree," she told Bridge Michigan.

This all comes after Grand Valley State, located in Allendale Charter Township, has been named one of the state’s pricier public universities, ranking 12th out 15 in the state. While the new program will not remove all of the costs associated with attending for lower-income students, it will significantly decrease the disparity between the financial gaps, Truss said, in addition to helping to bridge those differences.