Detroit-area students attending their eighth-grade ceremony Thursday learned that they all are guaranteed admission to Grand Valley State University following high school graduation.
Those counties account for about 40 percent of Grand Valley students, with 47 percent of homes in those counties having household income under the $50,000 threshold for the tuition assistance.
While limited in geography and income level, the Grand Valley Pledge represents another step in escalating efforts to make college more affordable in Michigan.
Just last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled a free community college program for residents ages 25 and older. And in recent years, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University unveiled programs offering free tuition for some students.
B. Donta Truss, vice president for enrollment development and educational outreach at Grand Valley, said the university hopes to increase the number of low-income students who enroll by making the school more affordable.
Grand Valley State University has revealed a new program, Grand Valley Pledge, giving qualifying students residing in six counties free tuition for all four years.