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Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) provides leaders and educators with data, research and resources in an effort to increase college readiness, participation, and completion in Michigan, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.

View some of our most recent data & resource links below.

impact map

Impact Map

This online resource for educators, administrators, legislators, and college access professionals displays student and community outcome data by ISD, county, region, legislative district and state connected to increasing attainment.

Primary Resources

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ALICE Report from the United Way
Michigan Association of United Ways

Standing for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - ALICE represents those in our communities who are working yet still struggling to make ends meet. The ALICE Report is the most comprehensive depiction of need in Michigan to date.

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Boosting college degrees decreases inequality, lowers poverty
W.E. Upjohn Institute

As the gap between rich and poor in the United States grew in recent decades, people with college degrees increasingly did better at finding good jobs than people with no more than a high school education.

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CBMI Resource Hub

A resource hub is designed to support work with College Bound Michigan (CBMI) and to provide college-access content for students, counselors, administrators, and other college access professionals.

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Certificate Programs in Michigan

A list of certificate programs in Michigan, including contact information.

Certified FAFSA Specialist text along with uAspire and MCAN logos
Certified FAFSA Specialists

This is a list of MCAN and uAspire Certified FAFSA Specialists who are dedicated to assisting school counselors, college advisers, and other individuals in supporting students and families across various locations throughout the state.

Title in white: "Charting the Course" over a lime green background
Charting the Course

MCAN's second edition of Charting the Course. A guide to communities for increasing educational attainment through the lens of collective impact.

Title in white: "Collective Impact Benchmarks" on an orange background
Collective Impact Benchmarks

MCAN has designed a set of Benchmarks using the Collective Impact framework as described in Charting the Course. These Benchmarks can be used by communities as they build an LCAN, as well as by existing LCANs.

Title in white: "College Bound MI Implementation Guide" on a royal blue background
College Bound MI Implementation Guide

A guide for high schools participating in College Bound Michigan.

White banner contains royal blue text that reads: "College Enrollment Crisis Social Media Toolkit" over a background image of rows of chairs
College Enrollment Crisis Social Media Toolkit

A collection of graphics and cut-and-paste captions to raise awareness around the COVID enrollment crisis.

Evolving FAFSA: Financial Aid Updates
Evolving FAFSA: Financial Aid Updates

This spreadsheet offers the most up-to-date information on financial aid deadlines from all Michigan institutions (as they submit data).

Fee Waivers 2024
Fee Waivers 2024

A list of institutions that never have an application fee or are waiving their fee for Michigan College Month 2024. Includes printable PDFs and social graphics.

Title in white: "Free tuition programs for low-income students"; royal blue background
Free Tuition Programs for Low-Income Students

A list of free tuition programs for low-income students at 4-year colleges and universities in Michigan, including brief descriptions and links.

Futures For Frontliners logo over a white background with green frame
Futures for Frontliners
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Futures for Frontliners offers Michiganders who worked in essential industries but do not have a college degree free tuition to their local community college to pursue an associate degree or a certificate.

Georgetown University logo in white over a navy blue background
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)
Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)

Reports and data developed by Georgetown University Center, focusing on education and the workforce.

Title in white: "Higher Education's Role in Preparing School Counselors for College Admissions Counseling"; light blue background
Higher Education’s Role in Preparing School Counselors for College Admissions Counseling
College and University Journal

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine school counselors’ preparation for college admissions counseling, strategies counselors utilize to stay current on college admissions processes and trends, and professional development needs.

Title in white: "Improving Access: Expanding Community College Districts in Michigan" in grey box over a background image of an empty classroom
Improving Access: Expanding Community College Districts in Michigan

Learn how regions not currently served by a community college district can join and allow students to attend at a reduced tuition rate.

Title in white: "MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery" over background image of young student smiling in front of chalkboard
MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery
Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget

MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery is designed to support local education leaders in developing and implementing a comprehensive pandemic recovery plan that is multi-year, evidence-based, and equity-driven.

Title in white: "Program Overview" over a maroon background with Michigan ECHO Scholarship logo across the top
MI ECHO Scholarship Overview Webinar

Ana Manzano, MI ECHO scholarship director, discusses scholarship eligibility and reviews the application, including required documentation needed to complete the process.

Title in white: "Guide for Student-facing Individuals" over a maroon background with Michigan ECHO Scholarship logo across the top
MI ECHO Webinar for Student-facing Individuals

Ana Manzano, MI ECHO Scholarship Director, offers a webinar for community college and high school staff and other student-facing individuals to better understand the requirements and application process for the MI ECHO Scholarship.

MI School Data logo in white over a royal blue background
MI School Data
MI School Data

State of Michigan's official public portal for education data to help citizens, educators and policymakers make informed decisions that can lead to improved success for our students.

Title in white: "Michigan Achievement Scholarship" next to MI Student Aid logo in white, over a purple background
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
MI Student Aid

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship provides up to $4000 per year to qualifying Michigan students in the class of 2023 and beyond who attend an in-state college or university.

Title in white: "Michigan FAFSA Tracker"; MCAN logo in teal in top right over a grey background
Michigan FAFSA Tracker

This online data tool helps you analyze current FAFSA completion rates and other college affordability data for Michigan high schools participating in MCAN's College Cash Campaign.

Title in white: "Michigan Institution Updates" over royal blue background
Michigan Institution Updates

This site features a list of all 84 public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges in Michigan. You can find institution-specific information such as admissions and financial aid by navigating through the tabs at the top of the page.

Michigan Reconnect logo over a white background with a green frame
Michigan Reconnect
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays for residents age 25 or older to attend an in-district community college, and it offers a large tuition discount for those who attend an out-of-district community college.

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MyPromise
College Promise

A digital tool to help students, families, school counselors, and other individuals find college promise programs in their area.

Spring Application Week
Spring Application Week

Michigan institutions with no application fee or who are offering free applications for Spring Application Week.

College Affordability

All students graduating from a Michigan high school should have the financial knowledge, literacy, and readiness to understand the costs and benefits of postsecondary education. View More

2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education
Education Trust-Midwest

This report from The Education Trust-Midwest, 2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education, is a call to action for educational change in Michigan.

College Affordability in Michigan (NCAN Snapshot)
National College Attainment Network (NCAN)

This is a state of Michigan profile outlining key college affordability measures in Michigan. It incorporate state-specific data on the Pell Grant, FAFSA completion, college enrollment, and degree attainment.

FAFSA Assistance Chatbot
College Board

This digital tool helps you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

College-Going Culture

When students have school, parental, and community support for attending college, college is seen as the norm. This makes higher education the expectation, rather than the exception. View More

2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education
Education Trust-Midwest

This report from The Education Trust-Midwest, 2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education, is a call to action for educational change in Michigan.

State of the State Survey 2017

A Check-in: Looking at the College Going Culture of Michigan Adults.

United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

Data and reporting developed and compiled by the US Census Bureau.

Credential Completion

It is important for all students who enroll in college to attain a postsecondary degree or certificate, while minimizing their time to completion. View More

2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education
Education Trust-Midwest

This report from The Education Trust-Midwest, 2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education, is a call to action for educational change in Michigan.

Stronger Nation: A Lumina Foundation Reporting Tool
Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation tracks the post-high school educational attainment of Americans ages 25-64. Since 2008, that figure has increased by 10 percentage points in Michigan.

Pathways and Transitions

All students graduating from a Michigan high school should understand their postsecondary options, leading them to enroll in a college that is a good match or fit for their aspirations, academic readiness, and career ambitions. View More

2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education
Education Trust-Midwest

This report from The Education Trust-Midwest, 2020 State of Michigan Education Report, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education, is a call to action for educational change in Michigan.

The Journal of College Access
Journal of College Access

A peer-reviewed, academic, open access, online journal with a focus on how students aspire to, gain access to, enroll in and persist in higher education institutions. The Journal is published periodically.