Central Bound Financial Support

With Central Bound, you don’t have to choose between your community college and CMU—you can take courses at both, all while holding active CMU student status. That means more options, more support, and a smoother path toward your degree.

Billing and financial aid

You’ll pay tuition and fees to each school for the courses you take there.

How billing works

• You’ll receive a separate bill from each school.
• Each institution has its own tuition, billing, fees, financial aid, and scholarship policies.
• Questions? Start with your home school.

Your home school is based on the degree you’re working to complete. That school will administer your financial aid and scholarships. Even if you take classes at both schools, your home school is the one that handles your money first.  Every Central Bound student has one, and it’s the first place to turn with questions about your financial aid package.

How financial aid works

The partner school will share and confirm how many credits you are taking with the home school.

• Those credits are counted toward your financial aid credit load.
• Aid is applied directly to your home school account.
• If your aid is greater than your home school charges, you’ll receive a refund. You can use that refund to pay your partner school bill.
• If your aid doesn’t cover your home school bill, you’ll owe the balance and still be responsible for your partner school charges.

FAFSA and scholarships

• Be sure to include both CMU and your partner community college on your FAFSA.
• Not sure which school is your home school? The Financial Aid Office at either partner institution can help.
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship: Central Bound students may qualify for up to $5,500. Courses you take at your partner community college count toward the enrollment criteria for this scholarship.

Cost of attendance

Explore CMU’s Cost of Attendance to see how tuition, fees, and estimated expenses may fit into your plan.