Advertising, training fairs, free tuition: How one state is trying to get more men into college

Michigan is implementing targeted advertising and outreach campaigns to encourage more men to enroll in college and vocational training programs. Maggie Bacon, who runs BEST Benzie County, is distributing flyers on pizza boxes to reach working-age adult men in northern Michigan, aiming to increase college enrollment. This initiative addresses a critical shortage of skilled workers in the state, where only 51.6 percent of working-age adults possess postsecondary education, the lowest rate in the Midwest. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration has launched programs like Michigan Reconnect, which offers free community college tuition for residents aged 25 and older. However, these programs have seen significantly higher enrollment from women. State data for 2024-25 indicates that 35 percent more Michigan women than men are earning degrees or certificates. Nationally, the trend mirrors this disparity, with 1.9 million women completing credentials in the 2024-25 school year compared to 1.4 million men, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. The state aims to raise the proportion of adult residents with education beyond high school to 60 percent by 2030, a goal that requires addressing the declining male college enrollment.