Understanding Michigan’s Reconnect Program Applicants
The Michigan Reconnect Program was launched in 2021, providing free community college tuition to Michiganders who are 25 or older and who have not already earned a college degree. In this report, the authors summarize the characteristics of individuals who applied to Reconnect through April 2023. They compare Reconnect applicants to the broader pool of people eligible for the program, describe the prior educational history of the applicants, and compare applicants’ intended field of study to the availability of high-demand, high-wage jobs in the State. In addition, they document and highlight patterns for applicants overall and by gender, race, and age.
Key findings
- The approximately 118,000 Reconnect applicants through April 2023 represent 7.2% of the Reconnect eligible population between the ages 25–49 and 3.3% of the entire statewide eligible population. Application rates among the eligible—the shares of the eligible population who applied to Reconnect—are highest among women, younger adults, Black adults, and those in the lower half of the state.
- More than half of applicants had some prior enrollment, with the vast majority at a Michigan community college. Most applicants had not been engaged with the postsecondary system for quite some time. While 12.5% were currently enrolled when they applied, 40% had previously been enrolled more than a year before applying and 29% had not been enrolled for at least four years. Few had previously earned a certificate.
- More than half of applicants had earned prior postsecondary credits at a Michigan public institution, and almost one-third had earned more than 24 credits, or the equivalent of a year of college. Though prior collegiate performance has no bearing on Reconnect eligibility, most previously enrolled applicants had a cumulative GPA that would put them in good standing (above 2.0). Together, these facts imply that an associate degree (or other credential) could be closer than many students (or policymakers) realize—if the prior credits transfer
- Most applicants are motivated by career pursuits of some form, though many applicants were unsure of their specific educational plans. Relatively few applicants expressed interest in Business Management, STEM, and Transportation, though those jobs represent a large share of high-demand, high-wage jobs expected to be available in the state. Although applicants’ interests may change during schooling, these initial preferences suggest opportunities for greater career and educational advising to better align students’ educational plans with labor market opportunities.
