Wayne State University will give free tuition to all Detroit students who graduate from high school, starting with this year's graduating class.

The free tuition is good for those attending traditional public schools, charter schools or private schools and making any amount of money. The only restriction: The student must live in the city of Detroit or graduate from a Detroit high school.

The scholarship, called the Heart of Detroit Tuition Pledge, was announced Wednesday morning by Wayne State President Roy Wilson at an event attended by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and representatives from the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

"This initiative aligns perfectly with many of our institutional values," Wilson said in a news release. "Opportunity, accessibility and affordability are all pillars of the high quality education we provide, and the Heart of Detroit scholarship delivers on all those values."

Here are the restrictions on getting the funding:

Live in the city of Detroit (verified by mailing address) and have graduated from any Michigan high school or any Detroit high school (public, private, charter, parochial, home school or GED program) in 2020 or after.

Use the RaiseMe app to complete activities associated with student success while earning microscholarships.

Receive admission to Wayne State University as a first-time, full-time freshman in fall 2020.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, for the following fall.

Students also must apply to Wayne State through the normal process and be accepted as a student.

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There is no restriction on family income.

"We didn't want to have a lot of reasons why people wouldn't qualify," Dawn Medley, Wayne State's associate vice president for enrollment management, said in an exclusive interview with the Free Press. "We thought we could go bold. It's really as close to free college as we can get in terms of tuition."

It costs a bit more than $11,700 in tuition and fees per year to attend Wayne State. This scholarship money is last-dollar-in money, meaning students will apply for financial aid, get what they can from the federal government in Pell Grants and other grants, add in whatever other financial aid they can get and then Wayne State will cover whatever is left to pay the tuition bill.

The money doesn't cover books, housing or other living expenses. Wayne State's website estimates those costs could add up to another $14,000 a year for a student living on campus.

Wayne State officials expect to see an uptick in students coming to their school.

"What happens if we are overrun with students?" Medley said. "That would be amazing."

She said Wayne State will be able to accommodate any additional students. She said the university is also prepared to help students, recognizing that many students, especially first-generation students, have challenges to succeed at college beyond just cost of attendance.

"We want to be stretched in supporting students," Medley said. "We will be ready to take on the challenge."

Whitmer praised the move.

"Every Michigander deserves an affordable post-secondary education, and Wayne State has been a tremendous leader on this issue," Whitmer said in a statement. "Earlier this year, I announced a statewide goal of reaching 60% of Michiganders with a post-secondary degree or certificate by 2030, and the Heart of Detroit Scholarship will bring us one step closer to meeting that goal. I'm eager to work with leaders like Mayor Duggan, President Wilson, and anyone else who wants to bring down the cost of a college education for everyone in Michigan."

Other Michigan colleges and universities have offered some form of free college, including the University of Michigan, which in its Go Blue Guarantee program offers free tuition to any in-state student whose family makes less than $65,000 a year.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj