10 MI Universities Unite To Admit HS Graduates With 3.0 Or Higher GPA

MICHIGAN — Michigan high school students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher will be admitted into most of the state's public universities beginning in 2024, according to the Michigan Association of State Universities.

Ten of the state's 15 public universities joined the Michigan Assured Admission Pact, which states its goal is to boost enrollment and "help students realize their full educational potential."

The schools participating in the fall 2024 admission cycle are:

• Central Michigan University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Ferris State University
• Lake Superior State University
• Northern Michigan University
• Oakland University
• Saginaw Valley State University
• University of Michigan-Dearborn
• University of Michigan-Flint
• Wayne State University

Officials with the Michigan Association of State Universities believe a standard for admission will reduce the uncertainty and anxiety that are often part of the college admissions process and empower students to achieve their educational goals. The initiative coincides with the State of Michigan’s goal to have 60 percent of working-age adults possess a college degree or other post-secondary credential by 2030.

"Higher education is the surest path to prosperity for our state and its residents, yet college enrollment has been declining each year over the past decade," Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Association of State Universities Daniel J. Hurley said. "MAAP aims to counter this trend by assuring that every high school graduate in Michigan with a 3.0 or higher will be admitted to all ten participating public universities across the state."

The number of high school graduates in Michigan has been flat or declining since 2008, when it peaked at over 123,000, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

Research from the institute shows the number of high school graduates in Michigan is expected to decline by 11.4 percent between 2022 and 2037, decreasing by nearly 40,000 graduates.

In addition, the research shows Michigan high school graduates are less likely to pursue higher education than in previous years. The college-going rate among the state’s high school graduates has declined each year from 2013 (65.8 percent) to 2022 (52.8 percent), according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

"Our future depends on helping young people graduate without debt so they can get a good-paying job and ‘make it’ in Michigan," Governor Whitmer said. "The MAAP is proof of what’s possible when we come together to create opportunity for tens of thousands of Michiganders. In tandem with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, we are lowering costs, building a skilled workforce, and leading the future of advanced manufacturing, technology, and so many other industries."