Free Tuition Program Extended At U-m School Of Information

The University of Michigan School of Information is now offering free graduate school tuition in two programs for full-time students who were awarded the University of Michigan Go Blue Guarantee grant as undergraduates.

Since 2018, the undergrad Go Blue Guarantee program has provided up to four years of free tuition for full-time, high-achieving, in-state students with family incomes of $65,000 or less and assets below $50,000. More than 5,000 students have received the undergraduate grant.

With the new UMSI Graduate Guarantee, the School of Information becomes the first U-M school or college to also offer free graduate school tuition to current or alumni Go Blue Guarantee grant recipients. The program will begin with students enrolled for fall 2023.

The UMSI Graduate Guarantee grant will cover four semesters of tuition and fees in the School of Information’s Master of Science in Information or Master of Health Informatics programs in Ann Arbor. Students who are admitted to the MSI or MHI programs are automatically considered for the grant.

“The UMSI Graduate Guarantee is one of many concrete actions we are taking to address social and economic mobility,” said UMSI interim Dean Elizabeth Yakel. “It supports our core value surrounding public undergraduate and graduate education as a path for increased social and economic mobility. We are also particularly proud that this targets Michigan residents with degrees from the University of Michigan’s three campuses—Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint.”

“The UMSI Graduate Guarantee demonstrates the school’s orientation to focus and invest first and foremost in students because we know that cost of attendance is a significant barrier for many people,” said Judy Schabel, UMSI assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The grant is the latest addition to a portfolio of substantial scholarships that students receive consideration for when applying to UMSI master’s programs.

For those who have an interest in the field of information, the opportunity to earn a UMSI master’s degree with free tuition opens a pathway to a future of financial security and professional fulfillment, says Laura Elgas, executive director of academic and student affairs.

The UMSI Graduate Guarantee will also benefit the UMSI community by bringing in more perspectives, more backgrounds and more talent, Schabel said.

“We don’t want to miss out on talented students in our state. We want to make graduate education accessible to all,” she said.