The partnership will help more students achieve bachelor degrees after earning an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College.
Under the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, and Grand Rapids Community College are coming together to make it easier and more affordable for more students to earn a bachelor degree after earning an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College. The new partnership will give students additional financial assistance to earn a bachelor degree.
According to an article on Grand Rapids Community College’s website, Tom DeJonge, who serves as the chair of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, was quoted as saying of the new partnership, “We firmly believe that students at Grand Rapids Community College are positioned to not just be in school, but to flourish, succeed and graduate into the world of work or a four-year university. We could not be more thrilled about this partnership with Ferris and Grand Valley as it opens the doors to more opportunities while reducing the financial stress that often comes with seeking degrees in higher education. This creates a clear path for students to shape their future at these highly respected institutions of higher learning.”
The Grand Rapids Promise Zone, according to its website, gives “Free higher education for all eligible Grand Rapids students who enroll at Grand Rapids Community College.” Eligible students will be residents of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan who graduate from a high school within the city.
This new partnership will expand the benefits of the Grand Rapids Promise Zone by giving Grand Rapids Promise students the ability to earn a bachelor degree from Grand Valley State University or Ferris State University at a reduced cost. If a Promise Zone student earns an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College, they will, beginning in January 2026, be eligible for $7,000 per year toward a bachelor degree from GVSU or FSU. Additionally, both universities have committed to providing up to another $7,000 per year if the student would still owe tuition or fees after the FAFSA and other grants.
Ferris State University's President Bill Pink said, "Ferris State University has been a longtime partner with Grand Rapids Community College, so this partnership with GRCC and the Grand Rapids Promise Zone is a natural next step in a long relationship. We believe in the transformative power of education to open doors, elevate communities, and change lives. The Grand Rapids Promise Scholarship creates an incredible opportunity for students who have earned their associate degree at GRCC to take the next step toward a bachelor’s degree. We know that a Ferris State degree provides a great opportunity for our graduates to experience a living wage career path as acknowledged by the Carnegie Foundation’s ‘Opportunity University’ designation, and we look forward to our Promise Zone graduates participating in that experience."
Almost 2,000 students have attended Grand Rapids Community College via the Grand Rapids Promise since 2020. With the establishment of this new partnership, students will be able to take their education further to earn a bachelor degree after their community college education.
Dr. Steven Triezenberg, the interim president of Grand Rapids Community College, said, “The Grand Rapids Promise Zone has already opened doors for nearly 2,000 students to earn an associate degree at GRCC. With this new partnership, those doors open even wider – making a bachelor’s degree more affordable and achievable. For our students, it means more opportunity and greater confidence to reach their goals. And their success in achieving those goals is a win for our community as a whole.”
For more information about Grand Rapids Community College, visit the school’s website.