October 20, 2023
Oakland University has been offering a free tuition program since 2009, but beginning with the fall 2024 semester, OU has recommitted to college affordability with the reimagined Golden Guarantee.
The Golden Guarantee is making sure eligible first-time college students with family incomes of $70,000 or less (and family assets less than $50,000) can attend tuition-free for four years. Students must also qualify for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
“OU has had a free tuition guarantee for 15 years,” said OU’s Vice President of Enrollment Management Dawn Aubry. “During that time, our free tuition guarantee has helped over 7,700 students and provided almost $44 million in funding towards their educational goals.”
To qualify for the Golden Guarantee, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s important to list Oakland University as the first school on the application, which can be done using school code 002307.
“Completing the FAFSA every year, as soon as it is available, allows students to receive the maximum amount of federal, state, and institutional aid available to them. The Golden Guarantee demonstrates OU’s commitment to our students and their futures,” said OU’s Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships Nicole Boelk.
Michigan College Access Network Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss added: "College affordability is cited as the top reason students don’t go to college. Programs like the Golden Guarantee are critical to helping more people reach their dreams and helping the state reach its economic goals. Oakland University should be proud of this program.”
The FAFSA form for the 2024-25 aid year will be available in December 2023 and can be completed at studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The exact date of the 2024-25 FAFSA is still to be determined, but Oakland University’s Student Financial Services Office will communicate updates about the FAFSA release as they are available. More details about the 2024-25 FAFSA can be found at OU’s website.
Along with covering tuition for eligible students through the new Golden Guarantee, OU is also committed to helping with on-campus housing costs for students who meet the same family income and asset criteria. In combination with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, OU merit and need-based aid can help to cover not only tuition, but also on-campus housing and other living expenses.
Oakland ranks as the highest and the best value for investment among peer institutions in Michigan, according to the Wall Street Journal. In fact, more than half of all OU students receive financial assistance, totaling greater than $160 million annually.
For more information about the Golden Guarantee, visit oakland.edu/tuition-guarantee or contact OU Student Financial Services at (248) 370-2550 or [email protected].