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West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship

PROMISE Scholarship

The PROMISE Scholarship is a merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents. Students who achieve certain academic goals are eligible to receive funds to help pay for college. Eligible high school graduates will receive annual awards up to $4,750 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public or independent institutions in West Virginia.

Scholarship Eligibility

MINIMUM HIGH SCHOOL GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

A student must graduate with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, or whatever is locally considered a "B" average, in both the core courses and overall coursework (weighted grades may be used). The core grade point average includes all core courses, but does not include electives. GED/home-schooled students must attain a 2500 minimum score on the GED for scholarship consideration. Students other than those attending a West Virginia public high school (i.e., private high schools and students commuting to an out of state high school) must submit a grade report form in order to be considered.

MINIMUM TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS

ACT/SAT scores must be from a national test administration and cannot be combined from multiple test administrations. In addition, the ACT and/or SAT writing portion will not be used in calculating minimum combined scores. Students should also read the complete list of PROMISE Scholarship Eligibility Requirements. This list also outlines eligibility requirements and application procedures for home-schooled students.

Timeline for the Class of 2012

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

The PROMISE Scholarship Application (Application for State-Level Financial Aid Programs) has been posted on cfwv.com.

JANUARY 1, 2012

The 2012-13 FAFSA will be available on www.fafsa.ed.gov .

MARCH 1, 2012: PROMISE Application

• Students must complete the PROMISE Scholarship Application (Application for State-Level Financial Aid Programs) by this date. Students may use their eighth semester (typically the spring semester of their senior year) grades to achieve PROMISE eligibility (3.0 GPA in the core classes and overall), but must apply by March 1st.
• In order to be considered for the PROMISE Scholarship, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the Federal Student Aid Processing Center on or before March 1, 2012, and meet the conditions for processing.

APRIL 2012

Initial award letters are mailed to PROMISE Scholars.

JUNE 2, 2012: SAT

Last date to take the SAT to establish scholarship eligibility (reasoning test only). Scores will not be accepted for any SAT taken after June 2, 2012.

JUNE 9, 2012: ACT

Last date to take the ACT (national test only) to establish scholarship eligibility. Scores will not be accepted for any ACT taken after June 9, 2012.

Renewal Requirements

Scholars are not required to reapply to the scholarship yearly. Scholarships are automatically renewed if students meet the renewal requirements at the end of a year of enrollment. Scholars may use subsequent summer sessions at their own cost to obtain GPA and/or credit hour renewal requirements.

Eligibility for renewal is determined by the scholar's institution at the end of a year of scholarship utilization, based on first-time semester enrollment. For example: Scholars enrolling in their first semester of college during the fall semester will have the fall, spring, and summer semesters to meet the renewal requirements. Scholars enrolling in their first semester of college during the spring semester are considered "off track" and will have the spring, summer and fall semesters to meet renewal requirements.

GPA: First year scholarship recipients must maintain an overall GPA of a 2.75 at the end of their first year of scholarship utilization. Thereafter, an overall GPA of 3.0 is required for renewal.

Hours: A minimum of 30 credit hours must be obtained in a year of enrollment for renewal.

Any college credits earned prior to the first semester of enrollment are not considered when determining the student's eligibility for renewal of the scholarship. Only credits and grades earned beginning with the first semester of college enrollment after high school graduation will count when determining renewal eligibility.

Please remember that students who lose their PROMISE scholarship will not be able to regain it at a later time. Students should also read the complete list of renewal requirements for college students.

Summer Awards

Summer awards are available on a limited basis to students eligible for scholarship continuation at the end of the academic year.

• To be eligible for a summer award, a student must be academically eligible for scholarship continuation at the end of the spring semester preceding the summer that assistance is requested. Students considered "off track" are only eligible to apply if they are graduating at the end of the summer or fall 2012.
• A summer award counts as a semester of utilization toward the maximum number of available semesters.
• Priority for summer awards will be based on class rank with the highest priority given to students closest to graduation.
• Any summer award under this provision is dependent upon the availability of funds.
• Summer awards will not be made until early June; students with payment due before that time may be responsible for payment.
• To be eligible for a summer award you must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours during the summer term(s) unless graduating at the end of summer or fall of 2012. Students graduating at the end of summer or fall are only required to take 6 credit hours.

For more information, please contact the PROMISE Scholarship Office at (888) 825-5707.

Community Service for PROMISE Scholarship Applicants

Applicants for PROMISE Scholarship awards are strongly urged to perform at least 20 hours of unpaid community service while in high school and college. The community service may include, but is not limited to, participating with non-profit, governmental, institutional or community-based organizations designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, meet the needs of community residents or foster civic responsibility.

PROMISE Scholarship Program Contact Information

PROMISE Scholarship Program Staff
1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301

(304) 558-4618 or 1 (877) 987-7664
promise@hepc.wvnet.edu