Michigan enrollees now eligible for in-state benefits
TOLEDO – One of the most significant factors for students choosing selecting a college is cost. An overwhelming majority of students choose to attend college in their home state to take advantage of lower tuition rates. Thanks to a new policy change, students in Michigan will soon be able to study out-of-state while still paying reduced tuition.
The University of Toledo announced in September that starting in fall 2026, students from Michigan will pay the same tuition as Ohio residents. This initiative is expected to save students about $4,680 per semester.
Since 1978, students living in Monroe County have benefited from in-state tuition. Because of that program’s success, UToledo decided to expand it to all of Michigan, according to UToledo President Dr. James Holloway.
“It’s a great way to bring talented people into northwest Ohio and have them go to school here. Some of them will stay in the region and build their lives here, and that’s good for everybody.”
Holloway said there are no current plans to expand the initiative beyond Michigan. For now, the university is focused on attracting talent from Michigan and evaluating the program’s impact before considering expansion elsewhere.
The new tuition policy applies not only to incoming freshmen but also to transfer students and those returning to finish their undergraduate degrees. According to a press release, the university already partners with several Michigan community colleges, including Henry Ford College, Jackson College, Macomb Community College, Monroe County Community College, Oakland Community College, Schoolcraft College, Washtenaw Community College, and Wayne County Community College District.
These partnerships make transferring to UToledo easier. So far, Holloway said he has received a strong, positive response from prospective Michigan students.
New Rockets will not need to submit extra forms or applications to qualify; they will automatically receive a scholarship that covers the out-of-state surcharge.
Holloway said he hopes to see a gradual increase in enrollment from Michigan.
“We’re hoping that in the first year of this, we get say between 50 and 100 additional students from Michigan with some growth in that number over time, and of course, that accumulates over multiple classes of incoming students, and so we’ll see how that works now, but again, we’re hoping for something in that 50 to 100 range, and if we get more than that, hey, that’s great.”
For any student in Michigan who is on the fence about enrolling at UToledo, Holloway offered some information to consider.
“Look at the programs the University of Toledo offers,” he said. “Look at the success of our students after they graduate. Our students are top five in earnings one, five, and ten years out after they graduate, Really, the University of Toledo is focused on helping students succeed, not just in college, but after they graduate, and this is a great place for a student to come who’s looking for that serious pursuit of a professional degree and the opportunities that come after they graduate.”
If a student from Michigan wants to enroll at UToledo, Holloway said the best place to start is the admissions website.
