Governor Gretchen Whitmer has taken part in a virtual graduation ceremony for more than 5,000 Michigan Reconnect graduates.

Michigan Reconnect is the state program that provides free community college tuition to students age 25 and older who have not previously earned a college degree. Speaking Monday, Whitmer told this year’s grads they’re making the state proud, and she’s glad it could help.

“In just four years, more than 207,000 Michiganders have taken the first step toward earning a tuition-free degree or credential through the Reconnect,” Whitmer said. “That includes nearly 35,000 young adults ages 21 to 24 who applied during the program’s expansion, which wrapped up in December 2024.”

The virtual event featured testimonials from students who have taken advantage of Michigan Reconnect. They included Brandon, who said things didn’t work out for him in his first go around with college. But as he got older, he wanted that opportunity again, and Michigan Reconnect helped him. He was joined by his Reconnect navigator.

“I was a little suspicious, but I signed up, did my FAFSA, and enrolled at WC3 [Wayne Community College],” Brandon said. “You reached out, ‘Hi I’m Sean, I’m your navigator,’ and so I had a name.”

From there, Brandon said he was in regular contact with the navigator.

Whitmer says Michigan Reconnect is one major part of the state’s Sixty by 30 Goal, which seeks to ensure 60% of Michigan adults either have a degree or a skilled trades certificate by 2030.