Focused On Student Success, LMC Foundation Offering Scholarships For Free Textbooks To Recent High School Graduates Attending LMC

Benton Harbor, MI. - Thanks to the donors of the Lake Michigan College Foundation, recent high school graduates will have another barrier removed to ease their transition to higher education. The LMC Foundation will be covering the cost of textbooks for LMC students who qualify under the LMC Guarantee, a financial aid program for in-district high school students.

“Study after study shows that community college students who have their books on the first day of classes are more likely to succeed. Lake Michigan College is all about student success and community impact, and this is another way to move the needle in the right direction” said Doug Schaffer, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the LMC Foundation.

“This allows students to focus on learning and building a better future – for themselves and for Southwest Michigan,” said Al Pscholka, Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing and Government Relations at LMC. “The biggest worry families have is student debt, and with the LMC Guarantee and this program, recent high school grads can get started on a great career in one of LMC’s 80 certificate and degree programs, or transfer to a four-year school with zero debt,” Pscholka stated.

In Michigan, the average cost of attendance is nearly $15,000 for public colleges and more than $40,000 a year at private colleges. For example, at the University of Michigan in 2024, first year students can pay up to $18,346 for tuition and fees, $16,246 for living expenses, and nearly $1,200 for books and materials.

“An associates degree and many certificate programs can mean an increase in lifetime earnings of nearly $500,000 over just having a high school diploma,” Pscholka said. “While community colleges have always been the more affordable option, over half of our faculty have doctorate degrees. LMC students are learning from subject matter experts in small classes as opposed to teaching assistants in big lecture halls at other schools,” he added.

Students who qualify for free books must be eligible for the LMC Guarantee (lakemichigancollege.edu/guarantee), a member of the high school graduating classes of 2024 or 2025, enroll full time at LMC (12 or more credits) for Fall semester 2025, and live in the LMC district (includes all of Berrien County and the school districts of South Haven and Covert in Van Buren County).  Families must complete a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid at StudentAid.gov) and be a Michigan resident since July 1, 2024.

For more information, students and families can email admissions@lakemichigancollege.edu or call 269-927-8626.

About Lake Michigan College

Lake Michigan College is a two-year, accredited, nonprofit community college with its main campus in Benton Harbor, and additional instructional sites in Allegan, Niles and South Haven, Michigan. 

LMC serves as a cultural center, a regional economic partner, and a leader in innovation. It features the largest conference and performance center in the region and The Fab Lab, which is a high-tech, hands-on makerspace where creativity meets cutting-edge tools, empowering students and the community to design, prototype, and innovate.

Established in 1946 as Benton Harbor Junior College, LMC is also the region’s leader in high quality, affordable higher education, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs in more than 80 fields of study, including business, health sciences, manufacturing, wine and viticulture, culinary, and more.  LMC offers national-title-winning intercollegiate athletic teams, on-campus housing, and a wealth of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to create an authentic college experience close to home. For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu.