Noah Johnson Daily Press Students study in the Student Center at Bay College. Bay is off to a great year with over 200 students enrolled - the first time the college has had more than 2000 students since 2014.

ESCANABA — Free college isn’t necessarily free for every student as advertised by the State of Michigan.

In July, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a $23 billion education budget for the 2025 fiscal year which included the Community College Guarantee.

The press release highlighting the program, saying that tuition is guaranteed at community colleges for every school graduate.

“With access to free pre-K for all, record funding for students, free school meals, on-campus mental health resources, and tuition-free community college for every high school graduate, this budget will improve outcomes, lower costs, and strengthen our education system,” Whitmer said in a press release from July.

Unfortunately, this is only part of the truth. The program only grants free tuition to those who live and attend school in a college district.

Delta County students/residents will receive free tuition if they meet the requirements.

However, should a Dickinson County resident want to attend Bay, they will not receive free tuition but rather a significant discount if they qualify.

Director of Admissions Jessica Beaver explained how the guarantee works for Delta County and how it compares to other counties.

“The Community College Guarantee is an opportunity for those residents in Delta County to receive free tuition if they graduated high school in 2023-2024. If you do not live in Delta County, so you live out of district. There is still an opportunity for discounted tuition.” She said.

This is due to the individual millage rate for each county as determined by the voters.

“Residents in Delta County, they pay a slightly higher tax towards us (Bay) that they voted on through a millage many years ago, and they keep voting for the millage,” Beaver said.

For Dickinson County residents, it does not matter if they attend Bay at its Escanaba or Iron Mountain campus; their tuition will not be free.

“It doesn’t matter which campus you go to, you’re a resident of Dickinson County and your taxes that you pay towards the college through the millage is less,” she said.

This means that the local college collects less from each person.

“So, therefore that tuition rate is slightly higher,” Beaver said.

Because of the difference in millage rates by county, the tuition rates will vary.

“We have two campuses and wonderful communities that are both contributing to why we’re here, but the tuition rates are different. So, unfortunately, the Community College Guarantee is also going to be different,” Beaver said.

She added that even though it may not be free for out-of-district residents, it is still a significant discount.

While it may benefit a large number of people, it isn’t free for those living outside of a community college district – a misleading representation of the program by the state government that titled the press release, “Gov. Whitmer Secures Tuition-Free Community College for Michigan High School Graduates for the Upcoming School Year”.

Whitmer quietly makes the distinction by saying, “This education budget goes even further, delivering on our Michigan Guarantee to ensure every Michigan high school graduate can earn an associate degree or skills certificate tuition-free at their community college.”

The key phrase is “their community college,” insinuating that every high school graduate has a community college where they reside.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Community College Association said the majority of Michigan families reside in a community college district.

“In community college districts, where tax dollars at the local level contribute to the operations of the college, residents of the district receive tuition at a lower rate,” said MCCA Spokesperson Anna Heaton.

“For those who live outside of a district, no local tax dollars subsidize the college and so the tuition rate is higher.”

Heaton added that the MCCA was pleased that the 2024-2025 fiscal budget was approved by the state, saying it helps those potential students not eligible for the in-district tuition.

“A capped last dollar award will be funded for those not eligible for in-district tuition so their costs are significantly lessened,” she said.

She also pointed to other resources to help those out-of-district students and in-district students.

“Any student eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, regardless of whether they live in a district or not, will receive an additional $1,000 award to help further offset expenses of earning a degree or skills certificate,” she said.

The MCCA believes that the program will help and encourage students to enroll at their local community college in the future.

Bay has seen an uptick in enrollment for the new year, with over 2,000 students enrolled.

“This is the first time since 2014 that we’ve had over 2,000 students enrolled on campus,” Beaver said.

She could not say for sure if the increase in enrollment is a result of the new education initiatives enacted by the state, but it is possible.

“It came so late in the summer for students to alter or reconsider their plans for the fall semester. I honestly don’t know if it made that much of a difference, but I do think it will make a difference for years to come as long as this program lasts,” Beaver said.

Beaver said that the financial department has been working tirelessly to handle the influx of questions from students about their tuition costs and eligibility.

Bay Director of Financial Aid Ruth Carlson explained how her team has handled the new program.

“We have other programs that are similarly impacting and we just determine what the eligibility is and kind of work through each student as we go determining how we can assist and help them in the best way possible,” Carlson said.

Tuition costs vary per student based on residence, contact hours, grants, and other factors.

The best way for an individual to figure out how much they will need to pay is to complete a FAFSA form.

“To truthfully know what you’re going what you’re going to owe, is to fill out that FAFSA form, which is free, of course,” Beaver said.