# Michigan to Give Schools $40 Million to Enroll More High Schoolers in College
EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan Capitol) — Michigan is directing $40 million in new state funding to expand dual enrollment, the practice of high school students taking college-level courses before they graduate. The money is set to go first to districts where more than half of students are economically disadvantaged.
The investment is a response to a persistent gap. Michigan has ranked among the lowest states in the nation for dual enrollment, with participation especially low for students of color and students from low-income families. Until now, school districts have had to fund dual enrollment out of their state per-pupil allowance, money they also rely on for other expenses. Several school officials have said that cost burden has discouraged them from promoting dual enrollment more widely.
That dynamic is expected to change this fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1. The Michigan Department of Education is currently developing the criteria that will govern how the funding is distributed.
"I don't know that we can put a number on it, but we hope to greatly expand the number of students taking advantage of the dual enrollment opportunity," said department spokesperson Bob Wheaton.
The funding lands as a number of states push young people to take college classes before graduating high school. Nationally, one in five community college students is a high school student, reflecting rapid growth in that model.
Supporters see a proven strategy
Education leaders say the evidence supports dual enrollment strongly.
"It is one of the best evidence-based strategies we have to help students succeed in high school and beyond," said Venessa Keesler, president and CEO of Launch Michigan, a nonprofit working to reform the state's public education system. "It really helps kids on their futures, helps families, reduces costs and shows kids that they can do it."
Stephanie Weiss, director of the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative at the Detroit Regional Chamber, framed the expansion as an economic development tool.
"The data is very clear on this," Weiss said. "Over 92% of students that took dual enrollment courses since 2016 have passed, so they've had a successful experience. Those students are more likely to enroll in college, more likely to graduate and then be part of the workforce."
Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association, said the new funding removes a key obstacle by taking the question of who pays off the table.
"Too often, and understandably so, school districts see the dollar signs of dual enrollment and not the really positive educational outcomes for students and families," Johnson said.
A start, but less than advocates wanted
The $40 million is less than the $60 million some advocates had hoped for. They still called it a meaningful start, particularly because it adds momentum to the state's broader effort to raise the share of residents holding a college degree or skills certificate to 60 percent by 2030. The figure stood at 51.6 percent in 2024, ranking the state 39th nationally.
Neil Wetherbee, superintendent of Northport Public School in Leelanau County, said his district has had only a few students dually enrolled because the nearest community college sits about 30 miles away in Traverse City. He expects the new funding to increase participation across his district and neighboring districts.
"It will certainly relieve a financial pressure," Wetherbee said. "We are always trying to juggle our budgets. But we are all trying to do what's best for kids, always."
Experts urge a deliberate design
Researchers cautioned that scaling up dual enrollment should be paired with careful program design so the benefit reaches a wide range of students, not just those already on a college track.
John Fink, senior research associate at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, said dual enrollment has historically served high school students who were already college-bound.
"It helps them get into college with more credits, complete sooner and save more on tuition costs," Fink said. "It also serves a college access purpose of giving students exposure early on in high school to a college course so they are already feeling successful as college students when they complete high school."
Davis Jenkins, senior research scholar at the same center, added that Michigan should build future opportunities "purposefully" to maximize returns for all students, including those who may not be on a traditional college track. He recommended that courses be aligned with an apprenticeship or an applied degree that carries strong labor market value, that the coursework be high quality and mapped to a career, and that students receive advising from the college rather than only from high school counselors.
That design work is especially important for students of color, low-income students, first-generation students, and students who speak English as a second language, Jenkins said.