DETROIT — More Archdiocese of Detroit students will have the chance to continue their education at one of Metro Detroit’s Catholic higher learning institutions.

On April 21, the archdiocese announced it was expanding its Catholic School Grant partnership to include Metro Detroit’s two other Catholic colleges, Madonna University and Marygrove College.

Along with the University of Detroit Mercy, the three Catholic colleges will offer special scholarships and grants to graduates from archdiocesan schools, in a collaborative effort to continue what archdiocesan superintendent Brian Dougherty, Ph.D., calls “K-16 Catholic education.”

“These agreements make Catholic education in the archdiocese more united,” Dougherty said. “This continues the focus on cooperative education between the archdiocese’s schools and these higher-learning institutions.”

The archdiocese originally partnered with UDM in 2014 to offer $5,000 a year in tuition assistance for students who attend archdiocesan schools from first through 12th grade, and $2,500 per year for students who attend four years of high school in the archdiocese.

Since the agreement, UDM has seen a 32 percent increase in Catholic school enrollment with the Class of 2019.

According to the archdiocese’s agreement with Marygrove, qualifying students from archdiocesan schools will receive $1,500 per year, which can be renewed for four years.

Madonna offers $2,000 a year for four years to any student who’s graduated from a Catholic high school. The agreement highlights an already existing relationship between the archdiocese and the Felician university, according to Cam Cruickshank, executive vice president of enrollment management and university advancement at Madonna.

“We’ve very pleased to partner with the AOD, to offer these scholarships to students to continue their education in Catholic schools in Metro Detroit,” Cruickshank said. “Madonna is very pleased to be associated with UDM and Marygrove; this is a great opportunity to continue Catholic education for students.”

Cruickshank said the addition of more students from archdiocesan schools adds to the Catholic heritage of the Livonia school.

“Students from the AoD are well-prepared, have a faith background and have similar goals to what we’re trying to accomplish,” Cruickshank said.

Sr. Jane Herb, IHM, said the new partnership between the archdiocese and Marygrove will help local Catholic families as well.

“The opportunity to continue a faith-based education is important for families who made a commitment to Catholic education,” said Sr. Herb, president of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who sponsor the Detroit college. “In announcing this initiative, Marygrove continues the IHM tradition of preparing students who are competent, compassionate, and committed to building a more just and humane world.”

Dougherty said the new agreements, which begin immediately with students registering in the fall 2016 semester, will help students to consider Metro Detroit’s three Catholic colleges while strengthening the colleges as well.

“One thing we’ve noticed, universities are struggling with students taking five-and-a-half years in obtaining a bachelor’s degree,” Dougherty said. “But Catholic school students consistently are more likely to graduate in four years.”