Michigan: school, college and career rules
Michigan's Merit Curriculum sets 18 credits (plus an online learning experience and, for newer classes, half a credit of personal finance); grade 11 students take the Michigan Merit Examination built on the SAT.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
The Michigan Merit Curriculum: credit is based on proficiency in the state content standards, not seat time, so courses, CTE programs and internships can each fill parts of a credit. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 3 Feb 2025 (michigan.gov files return 403 to requests from India).MDE
| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English language arts | 4 credits |
| Mathematics | 4 credits: 3 in the state standards plus a district-approved 4th credit; students must have a math experience in their final year |
| Science | 3 credits (or 2 credits plus a department-approved CTE program) |
| Social studies | 3 credits |
| Physical education and health | 1 credit (or ½ health plus ½ for approved extracurricular physical activity) |
| Visual, performing and applied arts | 1 credit |
| World language | 2 credits in grades K–12 (or 1 plus a CTE program or an extra arts credit) |
| Online learning experience | A course, learning or integrated learning experience |
| Personal finance | ½ credit, for students entering grade 8 in 2023 and later |
18 credits.
State tests for the diploma
Grade 11 students take the Michigan Merit Examination (MME): the SAT with Essay, WIN Work Readiness Assessments and M-STEP science and social studies. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 3 Feb 2025 (michigan.gov files return 403 to requests from India).MDE
Also good to know
- The MME's SAT with Essay provides the grade 11 English language arts and math scores used for school accountability.
MDE
2025-2026 Guide to State Assessments (PDF, November 2025)Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 13 Dec 2025.
View source
State test: M-STEP and the MME
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, PSAT and the Michigan Merit Examination. M-STEP is a computer-based test of how well students are mastering the state standards; combined with classwork, report cards and local tests, the results give a full view of student progress. MDE
View source
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| M-STEP | English language arts and mathematics (computer-adaptive) | Grades 3–7 |
| M-STEP | Science and social studies | Grades 5, 8 and 11 |
| PSAT 8/9 | English language arts and mathematics (grade 8 accountability scores) | Grade 8 (also taken in grade 9) |
| PSAT 10 | Online multistage adaptive test | Grade 10 (not part of accountability) |
| Michigan Merit Examination (MME) | SAT with Essay, WIN Work Readiness, M-STEP science and social studies | Grade 11 |
Source: Read through the Internet Archive capture of 13 Dec 2025.MDE
What the scores are used for
- Grade 8 PSAT 8/9 and grade 11 SAT scores are the English and math scores Michigan uses for accountability; grade 9 PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 results are not.
MDE
2025-2026 Guide to State Assessments (PDF, November 2025)Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 13 Dec 2025.
View source
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- Michigan public universitiesUniversity system · MiLEAP's Office of Higher Education works with institutions across the state on credit transfer (its Transfer Success Project). The University of Michigan, for example, has constitutional authority to set its own residency rules.
- Michigan community collegesCommunity colleges · The Community College Guarantee lets every recent Michigan high school graduate earn a skill certificate or associate degree tuition-free at their local community college, regardless of family income.
Sources: MiLEAP
View sourceMI Student Aid
View source
Every school in Michigan, public and private, with cost and completion: 168 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 18 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- Each university sets its own rule. At the University of Michigan you qualify for in-state tuition through residence (Michigan is your permanent legal home and you intend to stay), attendance, or service.
U-M Registrar
Guidelines for Qualifying for In-state TuitionUniversity of Michigan, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- University of Michigan attendance route: at least three years at an accredited Michigan high school followed by graduation (or a Michigan GED), plus attendance at a Michigan middle or junior high school; you need not be a legal resident of Michigan or the U.S. for this route.
U-M Registrar
Guidelines for Qualifying for In-state TuitionUniversity of Michigan, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- The University's residency office decides for all three U-M campuses, independent of tax, voting or driving rules.
U-M Registrar
Guidelines for Qualifying for In-state TuitionUniversity of Michigan, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the MI Student Aid (MiLEAP). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
For recent Michigan high school graduates continuing their education at a college or university, with a Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship for career training programs. MI Student Aid
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Community College Guarantee
Tuition-free skill certificate or associate degree at the local community college for all recent high school graduates; Pell Grant recipients get a $1,000 bonus for living costs. MI Student Aid
View source
Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Michigan license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Michigan board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Michigan Board of Law Examiners | Uniform Bar Exam (MBE, MEE and MPT). MPRE required (passing score 85). NextGen UBE from July 2028. NCBEMichigan: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Michigan Board of Medicine Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.); Michigan has more than one board, as listed FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Michigan State Board of Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Michigan Board of Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Not in the Nurse Licensure Compact NCSBNContact Michigan Board of NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
State of Michigan Jobs (governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan)
State of Michigan
- Search State of Michigan jobs online; featured career areas include engineering, business support, human services, IT, health care, natural resources and law enforcement.
Source: Michigan.gov
View source
Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Michigan has no State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers programs here. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Michigan Apprenticeship Office (U.S. Department of Labor)Michigan has no State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Michigan Apprenticeship Office registers and oversees programs.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: Apprenticeship.gov
View source
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Michigan: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Michigan Board of Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- Michigan Merit Curriculum: Michigan High School Graduation Requirements (18 credits) (PDF) · Michigan Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- 2025-2026 Guide to State Assessments (PDF, November 2025) · Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability checked 2026-10-21
- Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) · Michigan Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Higher Education · Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential checked 2026-10-21
- Guidelines for Qualifying for In-state Tuition · University of Michigan, Office of the Registrar checked 2026-10-21
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship (and Community College Guarantee) · MI Student Aid, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential checked 2026-10-21
- State of Michigan Employment · State of Michigan checked 2026-10-21
- State Offices: Office of Apprenticeship and State Apprenticeship Agency contacts by state · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21