Scholarships for High School Students in Michigan

Is your child in their senior year of high school? If so, the reality of college tuition might be inching closer and closer to your wallet. So, how can you tame the price tag of higher education for your child and minimize their student loan debt?

With some of these scholarships for high school students, of course! But how do you find additional scholarships in Michigan outside of filing the FAFSA?

Well, we’ve done some digging to find great college scholarships for high school students in Michigan that you may have overlooked in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties — and beyond. Scholarships are always available if you know where to dig.

Students can find even more opportunities online through websites like Fastweb in their extended lists or explore our affording college checklist, too!

Do you know of any other great scholarship opportunities for Michigan students? Let us know in the comments.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Scholarship Programs

Requirements: This foundation manages more than 20 scholarship funds with varying requirements. Students fill out a single application and are matched to scholarships. Transcripts and at least two recommendation letters required.
Amount: $250-$7,500
Deadline: March 15, 2024

Detroit Promise Scholarship

Requirements: This scholarship can be applied to education paths that are Pell-eligible. Every student who registers and meets requirements will receive funding if their college determines they qualify for a funding gap. The Detroit Promise even partners with community colleges for shorter-term skilled certification tracks, which can help students gain skilled employment quickly.
Amount: Varies but covers all four years of college.
Deadline: Visit detroitpromise.com

Diabetes Scholars from Beyond Type 1

Requirements:The application is intended for students to complete and not parents. They provide a holistic review process by seeking to understand each applicant as a whole individual, using factors such as academic excellence, extracurricular activities, volunteer history, unique interests, and strength of character demonstrated through personal essays.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: The 2024 Beyond Scholars applications will open Monday, March 11th.

Duck Brand Duct Tape “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Program

Requirements: Participants must create high school prom attire — either a dress or tux — completely made out of Duck Brand duct tape. Submit photos of yourself in the attire and fill out the entry form. Must be at least 14 years old to participate. It’s no longer required to wear your creation to prom!
Amount: $1,000-$15,000
Deadline: 2024 application not available yet

Eastern Michigan University First-Year Scholarship Opportunities

Requirements: EMU’s Global Tuition Rate eliminates out-of-state fees for undergraduate students, allowing all undergraduate students from the U.S.—and around the world—to pay in-state rates. Scholarships are customized based on a mixture of criteria and considerations.
Amount: $4,000-$8,000
Deadline: varies based on scholarship type.

Michigan First Credit Union Scholarship Competition

Requirements: Students are challenged to create a video or essay focused on a certain theme; most recently it was “If you could be any exotic animal for a week, what animal would you choose and why? What would you do during this time?” Applicants must be a good standing member with Michigan First Credit Union, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and plans to pursue a two- or four-year university, community college, vocational or technical school the following fall. High school seniors and current college students are eligible. Plus, find additional tips on applying for scholarships.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Applications start on April 8, 2024.

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship

Requirements: SWE Scholarships are available to individuals who identify as women and are pursuing ABET-accredited bachelor’s or graduate programs in engineering, engineering technology, or related fields. These scholarships aim to support students preparing for engineering careers worldwide. Applicants complete one application to be considered for all eligible scholarships.
Amount: Freshman scholarships range from $1,250-$5,100
Deadline: Submit an interest form to get information about when 2025-2026 scholarship applications open.

State of Michigan Scholarships and Grants

Requirements: The State of Michigan offers about a dozen scholarships or grants to high school students pursuing a postsecondary education. All have different requirements and stipulations. Click the title above to visit the website for the latest details.
Amounts: $1,500-$10,000
Deadlines: Varies. Some of the scholarship deadlines are:

• Children of Veterans Tuition Grant: 2025-26 application is available Jan. 1, 2025.
• Fostering Futures Scholarship: The 2025-26 FFS application is available beginning March 15, 2025.
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship: applicants must complete their FAFSA and they will receive awards from their educational institution. For the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship, students must apply.
• Michigan Competitive Scholarship: Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by July 1.
• MI Future Educator Fellowship: Complete the application in your MiSSG Student Portal for MI Future Educator Fellowship by June 15, 2025.
• MI Future Educator Stipend: Complete the application in the MiSSG Student Portal for MI Future Educator Stipend by July 15, 2024.
• MI GEAR UP: File a current-year FAFSA and be nominated to receive an award.
• Michigan Reconnect: For Michigan residents age 21 and older. Short online application and FAFSA submission.
• Michigan Tuition Grant: Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by July 1.
• Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant: 2024-25 Application Deadline: July 15, 2025. The 2025-26 application is available Jan. 1, 2025.

Thurgood Marshall McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program

Requirements: Must attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Amount: Up to $15,000 for the 2024-2025 school year.
Deadline: March 27, 2024

Union Plus Scholarship

Requirements: Students who apply for this scholarship must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and submit an essay. They are “evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.” Only current or retired members of participating unions, their spouses and dependent children are eligible. Find a full list of eligibility requirements online.
Amount: $500-$4,000
Deadline: January 31, 2024

Wayne State University Scholarship Opportunities

Requirements: Several scholarships are available to incoming or current Wayne State University students. Some scholarships are need-based, which means students need to have their FAFSA forms complete as well. Fill out the scholarship application online.
Amounts: Varies
Deadline: Varies. Some of their scholarships’ deadlines are:

• First-year undergraduate scholarships: For maximum scholarship consideration, you must complete the undergraduate admission application (including submission of all transcripts and test scores) by December 1, 2023. The final deadline for scholarship consideration is April 1, 2024
• Transfer Merit Scholarships: Winter 2025 semester: October 1, 2024
• WSU Private Scholarships: File the 2024-25 FAFSA to maximize your award options. The deadline for the majority of WSU scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year is March 1, 2024

This post was originally published in 2021 and is updated regularly.

Content sponsored by Michigan Education Savings Program. Visit MIsaves.com.
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