Topic guide · Local scholarships
Michigan Promise Zones
A Michigan Promise Zone is a city, county or school district that promises local high school graduates a scholarship covering at least the tuition and required fees for an associate degree at a Michigan community college. Michigan has 14 certified Promise Zones. Each sets its own rules, and many also pay toward a bachelor's degree or a trade program.
Last checked: October 2026 against the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act and the Michigan Department of Treasury.
How do Promise Zones work?
- Who qualifies: students who live in the zone and graduate from a public or private high school there. A GED counts. Zones can scale the award by how many years a student lived or went to school there, and can set GPA or enrollment rules.
- The minimum: by law, the promise must cover at least tuition and required fees for an associate degree at a Michigan community college. It can't go higher than the cost of a bachelor's degree at a Michigan public university.
- Trades count: the law defines the promise to include vocational programs that teach a trade, and many zones pay for certificates and apprenticeship programs.
- In Michigan only: Promise Zone money can't be used at out-of-state schools.
- How they're paid for: private donations to start, then half of the growth in the state education tax collected in the zone.
- Last dollar: students must use federal, state and local grants first, so the Promise pays what's left of tuition and fees.
Sources: MCL 390.1663 · MCL 390.1667 · MCL 390.1677
Michigan's 14 Promise Zones
Each zone sets its own eligibility, amounts and deadlines, so check its site. Where we confirmed details on the program's own site, they're noted.
| Promise Zone | What we confirmed |
|---|---|
| Baldwin Promise (Baldwin Community Schools) | Contact the program for current terms. |
| Battle Creek Legacy Scholars (Battle Creek Public Schools) | Class of 2027 application coming soon. |
| Benton Harbor Promise (Benton Harbor Area Schools) | Full tuition and mandatory fees at any accredited Michigan community college or career and technical school. |
| Detroit Promise (City of Detroit) | Community college and university paths. Full guide. |
| Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD Promise Zone | Newer zone. Ask your high school counselor for current terms. |
| Flint Promise (City of Flint) | For students who live in and graduate from high school in Flint. Online eligibility check. |
| Grand Rapids Promise Zone (Grand Rapids Public Schools) | Covers GRCC tuition, fees and textbooks, with bachelor's-degree funding through partnerships with Ferris and GVSU. |
| Hazel Park Promise Zone (Hazel Park Schools) | Scholarships for Oakland Community College, universities and textbooks. |
| Lansing Promise (Lansing School District) | Up to $10,000 at Lansing Community College or approved skilled trades and cosmetology programs, up to $20,000 at an approved four-year college. Requires district residence and grades 9-12 in Lansing schools, plus the FAFSA each year. |
| Mason County Promise (Mason County) | Class of 2027 applications Oct. 1 to May 1. |
| Muskegon Area Promise (Muskegon Area ISD) | For graduates from 2015 on in participating districts who enroll at Muskegon Community College, an approved vocational center, Nuvo College of Cosmetology or Baker College. |
| Newaygo County Area Promise Zone | A tuition-free path to an associate degree with a 2.5 GPA, and apprenticeship support with a 2.0 GPA. |
| Pontiac Promise Zone (Pontiac School District) | Award scales by years in Pontiac schools and can be used at Michigan colleges and skilled trades schools. Check the site for amounts. |
| Saginaw Promise (Saginaw School District) | See the program's eligibility criteria. |
Not on this list: the Kalamazoo Promise, which is privately funded and not a Promise Zone under state law, and other local scholarships that use the word "promise."
Sources: Michigan Treasury, Promise Zone designations · MI Student Aid 2026-27 manual · each program's own site, linked above
Can you use a Promise Zone and the Community College Guarantee together?
Yes, and they stack in a set order. For 2026-27 the state applies Pell first, then the Promise Zone scholarship, then the Michigan Achievement Scholarship or the Community College Guarantee to fill what's left. Pell-eligible community college students also get the $1,000 Achievement bonus. Since every program covers tuition, ask your college's financial aid office how your package adds up, and whether leftover Promise or Pell money can go toward books.
Source: MI Student Aid 2026-27 State Programs and Procedures Manual, standard packaging order
Common questions
How many Promise Zones are in Michigan?
Fourteen. The Michigan Department of Treasury has certified Baldwin, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Detroit, the Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hazel Park, Lansing, Mason County, Muskegon Area ISD, Newaygo County, Pontiac and Saginaw.
Source: Michigan Treasury
What does a Michigan Promise Zone scholarship cover?
At minimum, tuition and required fees for an associate degree at a Michigan community college for students who live in the zone and graduate from a high school there. Many zones pay more, including toward a bachelor's degree or a trade program, and each sets its own rules.
Source: MCL 390.1667