Michigan students participating in MI College Match have received 25,252 college admission offers and more than $1.274 billion in scholarship opportunities through the statewide direct-admission initiative, allowing thousands of students to explore college options without completing a traditional college application.
MI College Match connects Michigan high school students with participating colleges and universities based on academic achievements, interests, preferences and other information submitted through the platform. The program opened to students on August 26, with students who completed profiles by September 21 becoming eligible for the initial round of admission offers released October 5.
Participating students have received an average of 14 college offers, while every student participating in the initial release received at least one admission offer. A total of 26 Michigan colleges and universities are participating, and the initiative is connected with more than 350 high schools through College Bound Michigan.
Each admission offer included information about either the Michigan Achievement Scholarship or the Community College Guarantee, helping students and families understand financial assistance that could make postsecondary education more affordable.
MI College Match is a partnership between Michigan College Access Network, EAB and participating Michigan higher education institutions. The initiative uses EAB’s Match technology to enable colleges to proactively identify students who may be a good fit and extend admission and scholarship opportunities directly to them.
Instead of requiring students to identify colleges, complete individual applications and then wait for admission decisions, MI College Match reverses parts of the traditional process by allowing participating institutions to approach eligible students directly.
Students create profiles containing information about their academic performance, interests, college preferences and other attributes. Participating colleges then review those profiles to determine whether to extend admission and scholarship opportunities.
The program is particularly focused on expanding college opportunities for students who may be less likely to pursue higher education, including students from low-income families, first-generation college students and students of color.
Participating institutions include Albion College, Alma College, Aquinas College, Baker College, Bay College, Calvin University, Cleary University, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Great Lakes Christian College, Kalamazoo College, Lake Michigan College, Lawrence Technological University, Monroe County Community College, Montcalm Community College, Mott Community College, North Central Michigan College, Oakland University, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, Schoolcraft College, Spring Arbor University, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan-Dearborn, University of Michigan-Flint and The University of Olivet.
The initiative also supports Michigan’s Sixty by 30 attainment goal, which seeks to have 60% of working-age adults earn a postsecondary credential or degree by 2030. MI College Match is intended to contribute to that objective by providing admission opportunities earlier and reducing barriers associated with the conventional college application process.
Students can continue creating MI College Match profiles through June 1, 2027, and participating institutions are expected to issue additional offers on a monthly basis. More institutions were also still preparing offers at the time of the announcement, meaning the number of admission and scholarship opportunities is expected to continue increasing.
KEY QUOTES:
“An admission offer is an invitation to see yourself in college, and affordability is essential to turning that invitation into an opportunity. By including information about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee with every MI College Match offer, we are making sure students and families know that financial support is available. This is about connecting Michigan students with both the opportunity to attend college and the resources that can help make that postsecondary education affordable.”
Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffe, Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
“These numbers demonstrate what is possible when we rethink the way students experience the college-going process. Rather than asking students to discover colleges on their own, complete an application and wait to find out if they are wanted, MI College Match flips the process. It puts colleges directly in front of students with a clear message: ‘We see your potential, we want you here, and we’re inviting you to take a closer look.’”
Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Executive Director of the Michigan College Access Network
“An admission offer can change the conversation for a student and a family. When students learn that a college is interested in them before they’ve gone through a lengthy application process, they can begin thinking about college in a fundamentally different way.”
Hope Krutz, President of EAB’s Enroll360 Division
