In the next fiscal year, budgetary funds supporting scholarships, awards and grants will see an increase of 2.4% for Eastern Michigan University students.
At its last board meeting, the EMU Board of Regents approved the 2026-27 General Fund Scholarships, Awards, and Grants proposal of $55,100,000. This is an increase of $1,300,000 from the current fiscal year.
The approved proposal includes an assumption of 3.5% tuition and fee increase for undergraduate students and 5% tuition and fee increase for graduate and doctoral students, the approved board recommendation stated.
The scholarship, awards and grant increase comes as the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law earlier this year, is set to bring some changes to financial aid at higher education institutions beginning July 1, 2026. One change includes borrowing limits for graduate student loans. The bill also introduces the Workforce Pell Grant to include job-training programs and certificates. EMU does not have any eligible programs for this, stated a report from Katie Condon, vice president of enrollment management.
Pell Grants at EMU
Tuition at EMU has increased by 88.1% since the 2011-12 fiscal year, stated the report, while the Pell Grant has only increased by 34.5%.
New eligibility criteria for Pell Grants could impact students who receive non-federal scholarships or grants that cover the full cost of attendance, the report stated. This could impact 35 full-ride athletes who receive Pell Grants and Presidential Scholars who receive Pell Grants.
Student loan changes
The Graduate PLUS loan program, which helps students pay for education expenses not covered by other forms of aid, is set to end July 1, 2026. This is expected to impact 494 student borrowers at EMU, the report stated.
The Big Beautiful Bill also sets an annual limit for Parent PLUS loans, a Direct PLUS loan program that allows eligible parents to borrow funds for their child's education. The annual limit will be $20,000 beginning July 1, 2026. At EMU, there are 1,157 parent borrowers and 276 borrowed an amount greater than $20,000, the report stated.
Accountability measures
Additionally, the Big Beautiful Bill integrates some accountability measures on higher education institutions. College and university programs must show that the median earnings of graduates exceeds the median earnings of high school graduates in the same state in at least two out of three consecutive years, the report said.
If a program does not demonstrate this requirement, it will be barred from taking federal student loans, the report said.
