ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan’s largest free tuition program is getting a hefty expansion as part of the university’s shifting diversity efforts.
The Go Blue Guarantee previously covered tuition for in-state families making less than $75,000 in income a year. The Board of Regents announced the expanded threshold of $125,000 during the Dec. 5 meeting.
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The expansion means more than 2,000 additional in-state and current undergraduate students can qualify for free tuition on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, university officials said Thursday.
In addition to annual income, eligible families with assets up to $125,000 also qualify starting in the fall 2025 semester. Since the Go Blue Guarantee was established in 2018, more than 10,000 students will have received it by next fall, officials said.
“The Go Blue Guarantee breaks down economic barriers and ensures that a world-class education is available to Michigan students from all backgrounds, no matter their family’s economic means,” President Santa Ono said in a statement.
“It’s an extraordinary commitment to the state and to the future of this state,” Regent Mark Bernstein said.
The regents doubled the annual income threshold for the Go Blue Guarantee to better reflect the state of Michigan’s median income, Regent Mike Behm said. The program initially was marked for $65,000 annually and assets up to $50,000.
The regents increased the number to $75,000 in 2021, with Dearborn and Flint students needing to have a 3.5 GPA to qualify.
Regent Denise Ilitch said the expansion is an example of the board “walking the walk.”
“We are constantly thinking and talking about an affordable, accessible education for all,” she said.
The expansion will cost an additional $8.8 million, officials said.
“As a state university, we have a responsibility to serve the people of Michigan and — given the many pressures of today’s economy — we want to ensure that working-class and middle-class Michiganders can send their children to this great university and benefit from all that it offers,” said Board Chair Katherine White.
Regent Sarah Hubbard said the expansion is part of a university-wide effort to shift how it handles diversity, equity and inclusion. Between declaring institutional neutrality, eliminating diversity statements on job applications and the Go Blue Guarantee’s expansion, she said “were open for business for people from all walks of life.”
“People should feel comfortable on this campus expressing diversity of thought and freedom of expression,” she said.
These diversity changes are coming at a time where faculty have organized multiple protests this week regarding concerns of cuts to DEI programs. About 100 protesters walked from Ono’s campus home on South University Avenue to the Ruthven Administrative Building prior to the meeting demanding the regents to maintain DEI funding.
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