AP File Photo Gretchen Whitmer

LANSING – Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today celebrated the fifth anniversary of Michigan Reconnect, the state’s tuition-free community college program for adults. The milestone highlights the program’s proven impact in helping adult learners return to college, gain skills for in-demand careers and advance Michigan’s long-term workforce and education goals.

“Five years ago, we worked across the aisle to launch Michigan Reconnect with a simple idea: cost should never stand in the way of opportunity,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since then, more than 200,000 Michiganders have taken their first step towards college thanks to Michigan Reconnect. They will learn new skills and get good-paying, high-tech jobs, unlocking new futures for themselves and their families. We’ve boosted our postsecondary rate from 45% to nearly 52%. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but our work is not yet done. That’s why I called on the legislature to permanently expand Michigan Reconnect to every Michigander 21 and older. Let’s keep working together to grow opportunity and help every family ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

“Reaching five years is more than a milestone–it is proof that when barriers to education are removed, Michiganders step forward, succeed and transform their futures,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “Michigan Reconnect is about opportunity realized: learners returning to college, credentials earned and a workforce ready to meet the demands of today and tomorrow. This anniversary is a celebration of what Michiganders can achieve when access and support are at the center of lifelong learning.”

“Michigan Reconnect has fundamentally changed what’s possible for adult learners across our state,” said Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association. “Five years of Michigan Reconnect show that when education is affordable and accessible, Michiganders step forward. Community colleges see every day what happens when cost barriers are removed and support is built in credentials are earned and Michigan gains a stronger, more resilient workforce.”

Since its launch in 2021, Michigan Reconnect has welcomed more than 200,000 applicants, with over 66,500 students enrolling in community and Tribal colleges across the state. That impact includes nearly 35,000 applicants ages 21-24 who participated during the program’s temporary eligibility expansion, which concluded in December 2024. More than 14,000 learners have earned degrees or certificates, gaining skills for careers that strengthen Michigan’s workforce and economic competitiveness.

To support students on their educational journeys, Michigan Reconnect pairs students with Reconnect Navigators who provide personalized guidance to help students apply for financial aid, set career goals, select programs of study, register for classes and create graduation plans. This support helps students stay on track from enrollment through completion.

“It has been an honor to walk alongside Reconnectors as they return to education, reclaim goals once set aside and work toward a better future,” said Allen Chung, Michigan Reconnect Navigator lead. “Michigan Reconnect was created with heart–to remind people that their dreams still matter and to support them as they return to finish what once felt out of reach.”

Navigators also host online drop-in office hours every Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. and Thursday from 5-7 p.m. to provide one-on-one support to anyone interested in Michigan Reconnect. Community organizations and partners interested in hosting Navigators at events or requesting a speaker can submit a request through MiLEAP’s Event and Speaking Request form.

“Michigan Reconnect has provided a sense of restoration for me,” said Brandon Keyes, who started his journey with Reconnect in 2021 at Wayne Community College District. “When my first shot at college didn’t work out, I felt like I wasted talent, and that never went away. Michigan Reconnect provided a pathway to the restoration of my potential. It felt like I got another bite at the apple. I could just focus on achieving and becoming who I was truly capable of being.”

Keyes earned his associate of science degree from WCCD in May 2023 and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2025. He is now working on his Master of Science degree in information at UM and expects to graduate in May 2027.

“Michigan Reconnect gave me a future I didn’t think I could have,” said Jonneshia Doss, who is in her second semester at Henry Ford Community College working toward an associate degree in public health. “I didn’t graduate high school but I got my GED, but you can only get so far with that. Going back to school and getting a degree gives me more opportunities than I thought I would ever have. But it is so much more than money for school and education. It is about my whole life. Reconnect gives you a coach and support system and resources away from the classroom. I have a community that looks out for me. That is something I never really had before.”

After graduation from Henry Ford, Doss will attend Wayne State University, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in public health policy.

Michigan Reconnect is an important part of the state’s efforts to provide affordable pathways for Michiganders to earn a skill certificate or college degree and help achieve Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the percentage of working-age adults with a postsecondary credential to 60% by 2030. By eliminating or reducing tuition costs, Reconnect helps expand access to education and prepares Michiganders for the future of work.

Learn more about earning a degree or tuition-free certificate through Michigan Reconnect and apply today at Michigan.gov/Reconnect. In addition to Michigan Reconnect, MiLEAP offers scholarships that support Michiganders at every stage of life and with different education goals. Eligible students may also qualify for other state financial aid programs. Learn more at Michigan.gov/MIStudentAid.