Go Blue Guarantee – Office of Financial Aid (original) (raw)

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Earn Your U-M Degree for Free with Our Go Blue Guarantee!

The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) believes in the transformative power of education. That’s why our Go Blue Guarantee offers free tuition to qualified Michigan students pursuing their undergraduate degrees.

Through our Go Blue Guarantee initiative, we hope to remove financial barriers and create clear-cut paths to earning a U-M degree, empowering our students to tackle new academic challenges and build their futures.

What Is the Go Blue Guarantee?

The Go Blue Guarantee is a free-tuition initiative covering qualified students’ full undergraduate tuition and mandatory university fees.

When a student applies for financial aid, they typically receive a variety of funding, including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant, State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship, institutional scholarships and grants, and non-UM tuition scholarships and grants. If types of financial aid do not fully cover the tuition and fees, then UM-Flint makes up the difference and pays for the student’s full tuition using the Go Blue Guarantee.

Who Qualifies for the Go Blue Guarantee?

To receive the Go Blue Guarantee, an individual must be a Michigan resident pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. They must be either a first-year student or transfer from another institution and enroll in full-time study; part-time students are not eligible.

Additionally, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and meet eligibility requirements to be considered. Continuing students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress to receive any financial assistance from UM-Flint.

Go Blue Guarantee Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for UM-Flint’s Go Blue Guarantee, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You are eligible for in-state tuition.
• You are eligible to apply for financial aid.
• Have family incomes of 65,000orlessandassetsbelow65,000 or less and assets below 65,000orlessandassetsbelow50,000.
• Are a degree-seeking student pursuing your first bachelor’s degree.
• Are enrolled full time.
• Meet the GPA requirements:
  • Incoming students (first-year) must have a 3.5 GPA.
  • Transfer students must have a 3.5 GPA. For transfer students, the Go Blue Guarantee grade point average (GPA) eligibility is determined based on their cumulative GPA across all colleges and universities previously attended.
  • Continuing UM-Flint students need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Student and Family Income and Assets Explained

When determining a student’s eligibility for the Go Blue Guarantee, we use information from the FAFSA. On occasion, we request other documents to verify their financial information.

Each academic year, when the student reapplies for FAFSA, we re-verify income and assets based on their application.
Learn more about what is considered as an asset on the FAFSA.

How Long Does My Go Blue Guarantee Last?

All Students: Will begin with a maximum of eight semesters of eligibility. For every fall and winter semester attended at UM-Flint (whether you are full-time or part-time enrolled and regardless if you were awarded Go Blue Guarantee or not) a semester of eligibility is reduced.

For Transfer, Dual Enrolled, and Early College Students: A semester of eligibility will be reduced for every 15 credit hours of work completed prior to starting at UM-Flint. Example: If you are a transfer student who has earned 60 credit hours, you would only have up to four semesters of eligibility remaining).

Once all semesters of eligibility have been used, tuition will not be covered as part of this program. However, students may qualify for other need-based assistance to help with their tuition expenses.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

When will my Go Blue Guarantee amount be finalized for the semester?

The finalized semester amount of the Go Blue Guarantee will be determined each semester by the number of credits for which a student is enrolled and begins attendance as of the Census Day each semester. Credit hours that are added or dropped after the published date will not increase or decrease the amount of Go Blue Guarantee a student receives unless a student fails to begin attending any courses (including part of term 3 courses). If a student adds a part of term three courses after the Census Date, their Go Blue Guarantee will not be increased for the part of term three courses that have been added.

The Census Date, or tenth day, is determined by the Office of the Registrar for each semester and is the last date that a student may add courses without petitioning or drop courses with a fee adjustment.

When did the Go Blue Guarantee start?

As the U-M Board of Regents approved, the Go Blue Guarantee began in fall 2021.

What is tuition and what fees are covered?

Tuition is the specific charge the student will be billed for their classes. Tuition and Fees covered are full-time, mandatory university fees as defined by the U-M Board of Regents.

How is tuition covered?

UM-Flint considers all sources of tuition funding, grants, and scholarship assistance when determining eligibility for the Go Blue Guarantee. For example, if you have a Federal Pell Grant, Michigan Competitive Scholarship, institutional grants, or scholarships (private or awarded by UM-Flint), these resources would be totaled, and the university covers any gap between that and the cost of tuition.

**Is my Go Blue Guarantee renewed automatically yearly, or am I reconsidered based on family income and assets each year? Can UM-Flint review my funding if my parents’ financial situation changes?

Your eligibility is reviewed each year. In addition to maintaining a 3.0 GPA, you and your family must meet the income and asset criteria. You must complete the FAFSA each year (opens each October 1st for the following year). Family financial situations can affect this tuition program.

Will I get the Go Blue Guarantee for my entire education at UM-Flint?

• First Year Students (As of Fall 2021): Tuition is covered for up to four academic years (or eight terms) of undergraduate education if you qualify each academic year.
• Transfer Students (As of Fall 2021): Tuition is covered for up to two academic years (or four terms) of undergraduate education if you qualify each academic year.
• Continuing Students (Enrolled prior to Fall 2021): Tuition is covered for any remaining terms you have under the above conditions. For example, a Fall 2020 new admit, will have 6 semesters of eligibility remaining or two semesters if enrolled as a transfer student. A transfer student admitted Winter 2021, will have 3 semesters of eligibility remaining.

If you attend beyond this specified time, tuition will not be covered as part of this program. However, you may qualify for other need-based assistance to help with your tuition expense.

Who gets it?

UM-Flint in-state resident undergraduates earning their first degree who are enrolled full-time and who meet the income and asset provisions noted. Students must apply each year for financial aid and meet financial aid eligibility requirements to be considered. Continuing students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress to receive any financial aid from UM-Flint.

Is this automatically given every year, or am I reconsidered based on family income and assets each year? Can UM-Flint reconsider my funding if my parents’ financial situation changes?

Your eligibility is reviewed each year, in addition to maintaining a 3.0 GPA, you and your family must meet the income and asset criteria. You must complete the FAFSA each year (opens each October 1st for the following year). Family financial situations can affect this tuition program.

What if I lose eligibility? Will I be considered again next year?

Yes. UM-Flint reviews your FAFSA yearly for the Go Blue Guarantee program for up to four years for first-year students and two years for transfers. Students may demonstrate eligibility for the Go Blue Guarantee in one, two, three, or all four years. Eligibility is determined on an academic year basis and not between semesters.

Is the Go Blue Guarantee applicable to graduate programs?

No. The Go Blue Guarantee program will assist eligible students enrolled in their first Bachelor’s Degree (undergraduate) program.

Can my financial aid change if you have asked to review additional documents or information?

If we have requested additional information, your tuition funding is contingent on you providing this information for our review. If the information submitted is different from what was reported to us originally, your funding may change.

Can I attend part-time and still get the Go Blue Guarantee?

No. You must be enrolled full-time on the Flint campus to receive the U-M Go Blue Guarantee for tuition.

What if I take a semester off of school and am not enrolled?

Your eligibility will be reviewed for each academic year (fall and winter semesters) in which you enroll. If you take a semester, or year, off to pursue some other interest, your eligibility will be again determined upon your return to the University of Michigan-Flint, up to a maximum of two years (transfers) or four years (first-year).

I am working to earn a second bachelor’s degree. Can I qualify for the Go Blue Guarantee for tuition?

No. You must be earning a first bachelor’s degree to be considered and to qualify. Students who are completing a second bachelor’s degree may be eligible for federal student loans, up to the aggregate borrowing maximum for undergraduate students. Second bachelor’s degree students may also be eligible for private educational loans and scholarship assistance.

I am transferring to UM-Flint. Can I get the Go Blue Guarantee?

Full-Time transfer students admitted with a transfer GPA of at least 3.5 are eligible. GPA eligibility is determined based on their cumulative GPA across all colleges and universities previously attended. Your eligibility will be considered automatically when you complete the FAFSA and your family income and assets are considered. Transfer students may be eligible for up to four semesters of free tuition.

Will periods of enrollment at another institution be included in the years eligible for the Go Blue Guarantee?

Yes. When determining the total length of enrollment, enrollment at another institution will be included. For example, after you attend, if you take a year off to enroll at a different school, your enrollment will be included when evaluating future eligibility for the Go Blue Guarantee.

My Go Blue Guarantee does not appear on my summer financial aid notice. Why?

The Go Blue Guarantee is not offered during spring and/or summer periods of enrollment. Students may receive up to four years (four and a half for Engineering students) of tuition during a fall or winter semester of enrollment.

My Go Blue Guarantee shows as less than my full tuition on my financial aid notice. Why?

Other grants and scholarships, such as the federal Pell and SEOG grants, and some UM-Flint-funded scholarships contribute to this tuition program. In these cases, UM-Flint makes up the difference and covers a student’s full tuition using the Go Blue Guarantee.

I did not qualify for the Go Blue Guarantee. Can I appeal this decision?

If you have had a change in your financial circumstances not reflected on the FAFSA, there is a special circumstance appeal process to document those changes to determine if any changes to the income and assets would result in changes to eligibility.

Questions?

Email: [email protected]