LANSING, Mich. — After months of difficult negotiation that nearly pushed the state into a government shutdown, the Michigan legislature and governor’s office were able to come together and pass a bipartisan fiscal year 2026 budget early this morning. Michigan College Access Network, along with our partners in K-12 and higher education, are digging through the budget bills, evaluating what they mean for Michigan’s students and families. Schools and institutions that have been anxiously awaiting the final budget are now able to make plans with full knowledge of the state’s financial support.
Budget wins related to MCAN’s work include:
- A 3% increase in operational funding for public universities ($50.1 million) and community colleges ($10.9 million).
- A 4.6% increase to a highest-ever $10,050 in K-12 per-pupil funding.
- $41.7 million for CTE programs, plus $8.4 million for CTE/Dual Enrollment programs, $13.4 in CTE incentive grants, and $70 million for a Pathways to Success program to expand opportunities for students in “CTE deserts.”
- $10 million to support school districts with FAFSA completion requirements.
- An increase of $8.8 million in Promise Zones funding for a total of $43.3 million.
“MCAN is encouraged to see that investments in K-12 and higher education investments have been maintained through a tough budget cycle,” said MCAN Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss. “The path to a thriving economy and strong communities relies on ensuring that all Michigan students — especially students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college-going students, and students of color — have access to quality postsecondary education that leads to good jobs and stable careers. It is crucial to our state’s future that we continue to increase educational funding and expand opportunities for our residents.”
While MCAN is pleased with many of the investments made in this budget, there are changes that will negatively affect Michigan’s students. Both the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect saw funding cuts — though the budget also calls for up to $80 million of unspent and unreserved School Aid Funds from FY25 to be deposited into the postsecondary scholarship fund for FY26 and beyond — and the it includes a reduction in MCAN’s state appropriation from $4 million to $3 million.
“While we’re disappointed in these cuts, MCAN will continue to expand our work and look for new opportunities to help Michigan reach Sixty by 30,” said Fewins-Bliss. “The world is changing rapidly, and Michigan’s prosperity depends on connecting residents with affordable postsecondary education that prepares them to thrive in the modern economy.”
Education priorities mostly survive tough, drawn-out negotiations over fiscal year 2026 budget