04-22-2025
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive intended to help increase the number of men going to college or enrolling in skills training programs. The gap between men and women in the state enrolling in additional education has widened in recent years (Bridge Michigan). This growing gap is evident in an ongoing community college program that offers reduced fees or free tuition to resident adults. 67% of the enrollees in that program are female.
Whitmer said it is “critical” for Michigan to reach out to underrepresented populations in the state’s programs to boost enrollment in postsecondary education. In announcing her initiative, Whitmer said the state’s programs offer pathways to “good-paying jobs, enable economic mobility, support family formation, and capitalize on Michigan’s greatest strength: its people.” She wants 60% of the state’s adults to have a skills certificate or college degree by 2030. The newest order directs two state agencies to focus on outreach to these underrepresented communities to make sure that their members know about the state’s programs and have access to them. They encourage students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for Michigan-based scholarships.
Bridge Michigan reports that men have been less likely to enroll in college for years. In the class of 2024, 42.3% of female high school grads enrolled in a four-year college compared to 31.5% of males. That 10.8%-point difference is up from 9 points in 2019. Some men are choosing work over college, and they earn more money on average than women without a college degree. However, college-educated individuals usually earn more income over their lifetimes than individuals who stopped their education at high school. Community colleges in Michigan and elsewhere try to recruit young men into college through sports programs.