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carillon tower, cook-dewitt, and student services building in autumn with some fog

Eligibility

Participants MUST meet the criteria specified below:

  • Be a US citizen or permanent resident* OR Be a permanent resident of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) OR Be a resident of the Freely Associated States—the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Reside in Kent or Muskegon County 
  • High school senior and beyond
  • Be at least 19 years old; if less than 19, a Talent Search program cannot appropriately serve the individual.
  • Be first-generation – neither parent has a bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Identify as low-income (Federal TRIO Programs 2026 Low-Income Levels | U.S. Department of Education)
  • Express a desire to enroll, or continue in a program of postsecondary education, and request information or assistance in applying for admission to, or financial aid for, such a program
  • A veteran, regardless of age, is eligible to participate

Size of Family Unit

48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Outlying Jurisdictions

1

$23,940

2

$32,460

3

$40,980

4

$49,500

5

$58,020

6

$66,540

7

$75,060

8

$83,580

Each Additional Family Member

$8,520

Page last modified February 26, 2026