Southwestern Michigan College introduces Green Light Guarantee

Southwestern Michigan College is introducing its new Green Light Guarantee tuition-free scholarship program in the Fall 2025 semester. The new scholarship will complement the already-existing Community College Guarantee program which provides tuition for in-district students. This expansion will provide tuition coverage for all students who are Michigan residents.

According to an article on Southwestern Michigan College’s website, Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald, the college’s president, was quoted as saying of the new scholarship, "This commitment, on the part of SMC, to extend the state's new scholarship program to any recent Michigan high school graduate is indicative of our belief in the SMC difference. This opens the door to high-quality academics, inspiring arts and competitive athletics in a residential setting to thousands more Michiganders."

This new program will allow any student who is a recent high school graduate from a Michigan school and resides within the state of Michigan to receive a tuition-free college education at Southwestern Michigan College.

The Green Light Guarantee's webpage notes that the scholarship “represents SMC’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable education for all recent and future Michigan high school graduates pursuing a college degree.”

In order to qualify for the Green Light Guarantee, students must meet some of the same requirements of the Community College Guarantee. These requirements include being a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year, or have parents who have been, if the student is a dependent; have graduated from a Michigan high school; enroll as a community college student taking at least 12 credit hours within 15 months of their high school graduation; complete the FAFSA; and apply for admission at Southwestern Community College.

For more information about Southwestern Michigan College, visit the school’s website.