Scholarships, Grants and Loans

Generally, scholarship funds are disbursed with the expectation they will not be repaid, provided the student meets specific conditions (e.g., maintain GPA, enrollment status, or academic progress) to keep the funds. Failing to meet specific conditions can trigger a requirement to return some or all of the funds. Students should always follow the scholarship’s rules regarding usage, deadline, and academic performance to avoid repayment.

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) – Phase I

The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages eligible Medicaid recipients to complete high school by providing tuition assistance during an eligible student’s qualifying certificate, diploma, or associate degree program.

Fostering Futures Scholarship

The Fostering Futures Scholarship (FFS) provides scholarships to students who have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after age 13. Students must also demonstrate financial need to qualify.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is designed to help recent high school graduates in Michigan receive funds for continuing education.

Michigan Competitive Scholarship

The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing their first degree and is based on both financial need and merit. To be considered, a student must take the SAT (Class of 2017 and beyond) prior to entering college and achieve a qualifying score of at least 1200.

MI GEAR UP Scholarship

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federal program designed to provide early intervention services and programs to students in middle school and high school. The MI GEAR UP Scholarship targets low-income students by providing them with support services to increase their opportunity to succeed in postsecondary education.

Dorsey Great Start Scholarships

To encourage student commitment, Dorsey College offers the Great Start Scholarship for new students in select programs. Students must be in an active school status at the time of each award. The scholarship is awarded at the campus (institutional aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met.

Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship

Dorsey College, in cooperation with the Ohio-Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OMACCS), offers the Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship to ten (10) new students who have recently graduated from a high school in Michigan or Ohio. Students must first apply for Federal Student Aid using the FAFSA on the Web application.

The primary objective of this scholarship is to provide students with the education and training necessary to obtain a job in a Michigan business or industry and encourage students to learn more about leadership in their communities and in Michigan.

Vickie Harness – Courage Scholarship

The Vickie Harness – Courage Scholarship is awarded quarterly to one student at each Dorsey campus who demonstrates great courage and determination to overcome obstacles and continue their education with a positive spirit and outlook.

This scholarship honors Vickie Harness, who served as Dorsey’s Information Technology Director for 12 years before succumbing to cancer in 2020. Vickie continued to work to support Dorsey students and staff until the day she passed, and always did so with a positive, forward-focused attitude.

Dorsey College Legacy Scholarship

The Dorsey College Legacy Scholarship is awarded to eligible students who have been accepted into Dorsey College’s Practical Nurse, Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology, or Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology programs. Eligible students must have graduated from one of Dorsey College’s Allied Health or Paramedic programs.

Legacy Scholarship recipients are not eligible for any other institutional grants or scholarships. Scholarships are not transferable from one program to another and funds may be used for tuition, fees, and other institutional charges only.

Todd Stanaway Memorial Scholarship

The Todd Stanaway Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to two current, full-time residents of the City of Westland or the City of Wayne for costs associated with the Dorsey College Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician programs. Scholarship funds are utilized to cover the cost of program tuition, textbooks, and laboratory fees.

Brian Woehlke Memorial Scholarship

The Brian Woehlke Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to two graduating seniors who attend Wayne-Westland School District for costs associated with the Dorsey College Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician programs. Scholarship funds are utilized to cover the cost of program tuition, textbooks, and laboratory fees.

Grants are need-based awards that may be funded by the federal government, the State of Michigan, Dorsey College, or private organizations. Grants do not require repayment.

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Education to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by the student’s financial need and is for the purpose of defraying educational costs.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Federal SEOG is an award made by the school (campus-based aid) from limited funds provided by the U.S. Department of Education. SEOG must be awarded to students with exceptional financial need (students with the lowest expected family contribution) and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants.

Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG)

The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to students who are the natural or adopted child of a qualified Michigan veteran that has died or become totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected illness or injury, or is missing in action (MIA) as a result of military service.

Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG)

The Michigan Tuition Grant is available to undergraduate Michigan residents with financial need who are attending a Michigan degree-granting, non-profit independent college such as Dorsey College. This grant is currently closed to new applicants but continues for students who received an award in academic years 2023-2024 and prior.

Ruth Dorsey Grant

Students must first apply for Federal Student Aid using the FAFSA on the Web application. Students who are not eligible to receive Pell Grant may be eligible to receive the Ruth Dorsey Grant. If a student becomes Pell Grant eligible for any term/payment period after the Ruth Dorsey Grant has been awarded, the student will no longer be eligible for the full amount of the grant.

The grant is awarded at the campus (institutional aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met. It is awarded by term/payment period up to the maximum program eligibility amount based on the total number of credits or clock hours in the student’s program of study.

Pat Fischer Culinary Arts Grant

Students enrolled in the Dorsey College Culinary Arts program must first apply for Federal Student Aid funds using the FAFSA on the Web application. Eligible Pell Grant students may be eligible to receive the Pat Fischer Culinary Arts Grant. If a student becomes ineligible for the Pell Grant for any term after this grant has been awarded, the student will no longer be eligible for the full amount of the grant.

The grant is awarded at the campus (institutional aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met.

Dorsey Veterans Grant

The Dorsey Veterans Grant is awarded to any active-duty member or honorably discharged veteran of any United States military service branch, and their spouse. Students must first apply for Federal Student Aid using the FAFSA on the Web application.

The grant is awarded at the campus (institutional aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met. Applicants must provide documentation to their financial aid office confirming they are veterans or a spouse of a veteran. A maximum of one grant may be awarded to any single applicant.

Low-interest student loans are available and must be repaid when a student graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment.

Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan

The Subsidized Stafford Loan program provides low-interest loans through the U.S. Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program. The federal government pays the interest on a subsidized student loan during in-school status of at least half time, the grace period, and authorized deferment periods.

Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

If a student does not qualify for a full or partial Subsidized Stafford Loan based on financial need, or needs additional loan funding, they may qualify for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. The federal government does not pay the interest on unsubsidized loans while the student is in school. Borrowers are responsible for all interest that accrues while enrolled, during the grace period, and during any deferment periods.

Direct PLUS Loan (for Parents)

The Direct PLUS loan is available to parents who wish to apply for additional assistance for their dependent child’s education. A parent’s decision not to apply for a PLUS loan does not guarantee the dependent student may receive additional financial aid assistance. The amount of the PLUS loan cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance less other student aid awarded.

Dorsey Institutional Loan

Dorsey College offers a private institutional loan to eligible students who have a gap between their Federal Student Aid and institutional tuition and fees. This loan can only be used to cover direct costs incurred by the student (e.g., tuition and fees); it cannot be used to cover other educationally related expenses (e.g., travel, room and board, etc.).

Private Educational Loans

Students have a variety of options if they choose to apply for private loans. Dorsey College does not use a preferred lender list; instead, students are provided with a list of private education loan lenders that have offered private loans to Dorsey students over the past four years.

Students should select a private lender of their choice and are not required to use any of the lenders listed. Dorsey College will promptly process the application for any lender selected by students. Students and parents should first apply for Federal Student Aid before resorting to private educational loans.

Federal Work-Study provides part-time employment opportunities, enabling students to earn wages that can be applied toward educational expenses.

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study program is an award made by the school (campus-based aid) from limited funds provided by the federal government. The award is given to eligible students who are employed under the Federal Work-Study program by the school in which the student is enrolled (on campus). Federal Work-Study recipients may also be employed off campus by federal, state, or local public agencies, or certain private nonprofit or for-profit organizations.

Not all Dorsey College campus locations may offer the Federal Work-Study program. See your campus financial aid office for additional information.

In addition to traditional financial aid, students may also qualify for state-sponsored programs, veterans’ benefits, or other workforce development and job training initiatives.

EMS Career Programs Advance Payment Incentive

Dorsey College offers an Advance Payment Incentive to students paying the total cost of their entire Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic program prior to or upon the start of their training. Payment must be made in full by either cash (money order or cashier’s check) or credit card, without the use of:

• Any third-party billing that requires invoicing by Dorsey College, or
• Loans or financing made available through Dorsey College.

Tuition Reimbursement

Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS)

Michigan Rehabilitation Services is a statewide network providing vocational rehabilitation services to eligible Michigan citizens with disabilities. MRS may arrange, provide, or purchase the services necessary to achieve an individual’s employment plan.

Veterans Education Benefits

If a student has veteran’s education benefits (Montgomery GI Bill®, Post-9/11 GI Bill®, etc.), specified Dorsey locations are approved as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs educational facility for the training of veterans and eligible persons.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

If you are unemployed or underemployed, you may be eligible to receive a training fund voucher (Individual Training Account or ITA) to reduce your educational costs.

UAW Tuition Assistance Plan

Dorsey College is approved to participate in tuition assistance and scholarship programs provided by UAW-FCA, UAW-Ford, and UAW-GM for employees, retirees, and their eligible dependent children.

For your customized financial aid offer, complete your FAFSA and include your preferred Dorsey College campus institution code.