The new Michigan Reconnect program is leading to new enrollments at Lake Michigan College. Reconnect Michigan will pay the tuition for an associate degree or trade certificate for any Michigan high school graduate age 25 or older who does not have a degree. LMC Director of Admissions Jeremy Schaeffer tells WSJM News the summer numbers are up.
“Compared to this time last year, just for summer alone, we’re seeing over a 40% increase in our applications, and we know a lot of that has something to do with this program,” Schaeffer said.
Schaeffer says the fall numbers don’t yet appear to be affected, but he wouldn’t expect them to yet. The Michigan Reconnect students include those who have never gone to college, but many who were previously LMC students but didn’t graduate.
“Just like the Frontliners program showed us, a lot of those are students who may have started with us in the past, and are coming back to take a second change, and really I think are more focused at this point after some time away and ready to jump right in.”
Schaeffer says a typical 12 credit hour semester might cost about $2,000. Multiply that by five, and Reconnect Michigan could save a student $10,000. Schaeffer says most of the Reconnect Michigan students seek an associate degree over a certificate. He urges anyone who is interested to take advantage of the program.
