The West Virginia Promise Scholarship 

Name: The West Virginia Promise Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $4,750 per year

Information and Eligibility:
The West Virginia Promise Scholarship is a prestigious state-funded program that provides substantial financial support to qualified students who graduate from a West Virginia high school and pursue higher education at an accredited in-state institution. The program was created by the West Virginia Legislature to encourage academic excellence, promote college affordability, and help students remain in the state for college and beyond.

The Promise Scholarship is both a merit- and need-based award, ensuring that high-achieving students from all financial backgrounds can access a college education. Students who meet GPA and standardized test requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress in college can receive up to $4,750 annually toward tuition and mandatory fees at eligible West Virginia public and private colleges or universities. The award is renewable for up to four years (eight semesters) of undergraduate study as long as renewal requirements are met.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a legal resident of West Virginia and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Graduate from an accredited public or private high school in West Virginia.
• Earn a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (both overall GPA and core coursework GPA).
• Meet standardized test score requirements on the ACT or SAT prior to the deadline (minimum ACT composite of 21 or SAT combined score of 1080, though benchmarks may adjust slightly each cycle).
• Plan to enroll as a full-time student at an eligible in-state public or private college or university.
• Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the required deadline.

Application Requirements:
To be considered for the Promise Scholarship, students must complete all components of the application process by the stated deadlines:

• Complete the Promise Scholarship online application through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) portal.
• Submit official high school transcripts verifying GPA and core course completion.
• Complete and submit the FAFSA to confirm financial eligibility.
• Provide proof of West Virginia residency if requested.
• Submit ACT or SAT test scores to the WVHEPC by the testing deadline.

Renewal Requirements:
To continue receiving the Promise Scholarship, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in college, complete at least 30 credit hours per academic year, and remain enrolled full-time at an eligible institution.

Deadline: March 1

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