Independent colleges put students first

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In 2015 Michigan's independent, non-profit colleges and universities spent $984 million of institutional funds on scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts for students in need. Salaries and benefits paid to employees at the same institutions totaled $869 million. The institutions invested greater than $100 million more in students.

Grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts help to ensure that students can complete a degree on time and leave college with little or no student debt.

In the same year, faculty and staff at Michigan's public universities received a total of $7.9 billion in salaries and benefits while the institutions spent a quarter of that ($1.9 billion) on scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts for students. Spending on faculty and staff is more than four times the amount spent on student financial aid.

Independent, non-profit colleges and universities are investing in Michigan students first.