A small private university in Michigan's far north is offering free tuition to graduates of Hancock Central High School as part of a deal with local school administrators.

About 550 students now attend Finlandia University, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In a deal with the Hancock public schools, Finlandia will get a classroom building and sports field the district no longer needs.

In exchange, graduates of Hancock Central High who qualify for admission to Finlandia will get free tuition.

Twenty-five of Hancock's 55 spring graduates have accepted Finlandia's offer and are enrolled for the fall semester. The free tuition offer is good for at least the next 12 years.