I'm Alan Durkee. As an administrator for the Family Independence Agency, I have worked extensively with the program over the past twelve years. The Tuition Incentive Program was created as, and continues to be, an incentive for students in low income families to remain in school and get their high school diploma.
TIP pays for college tuition and fees for low-income students.
Low income is defined as being a recipient of Medicaid for any 24 months within a 36-month period prior to the date of application. Students may apply as soon as they enter the 6 th grade but no later than when they graduate from high school or complete their GED or reach age 20. The Family Independence Agency, which determines eligibility for Medicaid, sends an application to all eligible students. Once the student returns a signed application to the Agency, the student is permanently eligible for TIP regardless of future family economic circumstances. However, the student must apply with in the required timeframes to be eligible.