Opportunities Abound!

College Information

• A four-year degree from a Michigan public university can make the difference. Visit GetMIDegree
• Michigan Training Connect is the state's official eligible training provider list (ETPL) for students working with the Michigan Works! network.
• Vocational proprietary schools and their programs may be found through the Postsecondary Schools license search tool and Michigan Training Connect to find programs that prepare students for a third party industry recognized credential (includes credential cost information).
• MiSchoolData maintains summaries and reporting on six-year success rates for Michigan community colleges and public universities. To view specifics for a college or university, use the drop-down menu.
• In addition to the tuition data on Pathfinder, average tuition and fees associated with attendance at Michigan community colleges can be found on MiSchoolData. Use the drop-down menu to select a specific community college.
• Average tuition and fees associated with attendance at Michigan public colleges and universities can also be found on the United States Department of Education College Scorecard website. Use the search function to find a specific college or university.

Financial Aid

• BCPS grads have exclusive access to the Bearcat Advantage scholarship, covering up to 100% of tuition for Michigan colleges and HBCUs throughout the country.
• Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is the first step in seeking financial aid.
• Paying for education after high school is a lifelong investment in achieving life's goals. Getting there may require the assistance of resources including the Federal and State Governments, private financial institutions, family contributions and individual savings. Get started with the Paying for College toolkit for more resources.
• The Institute of College Access and Success (TICAS) Project on Student Debt publishes institutional data regarding the average debt of graduates, the percent of graduates with debt, and data regarding private loans. Additional data can be found on each institution's listing on the United States Department of Education College Scorecard website, such as median loan amount after graduation, typical monthly loan payment and median earnings post-degree.
• When considering taking loans out for school, you may want to weigh the benefits of public service careers and certain forgiveness associated with those careers, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (employed by a government or nonprofit) or Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Find out more about types of loan forgiveness on the Federal Student Aid website. Public service careers are listed under "Serve my Community or Country."
• MI Scholarship Search from the Michigan Department of Treasury can help with locating regional and locally available scholarships. You may also look within your community for additional public and private resources.
• The State of Michigan offers a variety of scholarship and grant opportunities for students in Michigan.
  • MI Future Educator Fellowship offers $10,000 scholarships to up to 2,500 future educators every year.
  • MI Future Educator Stipend is a $9,600 stipend per semester to support Michigan's hardworking student teachers as they continue their journey to being in the classroom full-time.
  • Michigan Achievement Scholarship is available to students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023 or after will be eligible for more financial aid from the State of Michigan:
    • Up to $2,000 if they attend an eligible training provider in Michigan, per year, up to two years
    • Up to $2,750 if they attend a Michigan community college, per year, up to three years
    • Up to $4,000 if they attend a Michigan private college or university, per year, up to five years
    • Up to $5,500 if they attend a Michigan public university, per year, up to five years
• Michigan Reconnect offers free in-district tuition, contact hours and mandatory fees to Michiganders 25 or older to pursue a Pell-eligible skill certificate or associate degree at any of Michigan's public community colleges.
• The Michigan Promise Zones Association provides information regarding place-based scholarship initiatives to increase educational attainment and spur economic growth in Michigan communities. Explore the Promise Zone Map to find out whether your community is part of a Promise Zone and to learn more through the specific Promise Zone websites.

Career Opportunities

• Interested in exploring in-demand jobs in Michigan? Explore Michigan's Hot 50 Job Outlook through 2030, which includes the anticipated job growth, the average wage and the minimum education requirements for each occupation through 2028. The publication is intended to provide valuable career information to students in high school, vocational and community colleges, as well as job seekers. Additional occupational forecasts and research are available in Michigan's Online Job Demand, a publication from Michigan's Labor Market Information.
• The Roadmap to Opportunity highlights in-demand, high-wage careers. Explore hot job career pathways that require a certificate or an associate degree. Hear from Michigan residents who have chosen these careers and why. The website includes pathway information for the careers, including information on available programs, hourly wage rates, and cool classes you can take.
• Pure Michigan Talent Connect is your launch pad for new jobs, careers and job fairs. It is a tool connecting Michigan's job seekers and employers and serves as a central hub linking all public and private stakeholders who support Michigan's workforce. Pure Michigan Talent Connect serves as the state's labor exchange system.
• The Michigan College Access Network has a list of Michigan certificate programs (PDF 750KB) which includes contact information.

Serve Your Community or Country

• You may be interested in opportunities to serve in the public safety sector or armed forces. If you're interested in serving the public safety sector, through becoming a firefighter or police officer, check to see what the minimum requirements are for the place you want to serve. Typically this will be either a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate, and a minimum age requirement.
  • Consider joining the Michigan Army National Guard or the Michigan National Guard
  • You may also consider serving your country by enlisting with the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force or the United States Army.
  • AmeriCorps is another way to serve your community. Find out which AmeriCorps programs may fit you best, then complete the AmeriCorps Interest Form.
• Public Service is defined as employment by government (federal, tribal, state, city, county, township), nonprofit organizations or certain types of not-for profit organizations. Some of these careers are among the most in-demand on Michigan's Hot 50 Job Outlook. A few examples of public service careers are highlighted below, and a comprehensive list is available on michigan.gov. Links to public service career training and education opportunities can be found on the individual Pathfinder occupation detail or licenses and related credential sections.
  • Firefighter
  • Paramedic
  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Community Health Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Urban and Regional Planner
  • Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers
  • Corrections Officer
  • Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Bus Drivers, School
  • Social and Community Service Managers
  • Forest and Conservation Technicians