PROMISE Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements

PROMISE Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements for the Class of 2012

  • To qualify for a PROMISE Scholarship award, students must meet ALL eligibility requirements listed.

  • All students must complete the PROMISE Scholarship Application Link opens to new window (Application for State-Level Financial Aid Programs) by March 1, 2012. The application will be posted on this site November 1, 2011. Students may request a paper version of the application by calling (304) 558-4417.

  • All students must file the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, 2012. A student's FAFSA Link opens to new window must meet the conditions for processing as of March 1.

  • A student and his/her parents or legal guardians must be legal residents of West Virginia for a minimum of one year prior to the application deadline (March 1, 2012).

  • A student must graduate with a minimum core and overall 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or whatever is locally considered a "B" average (weighted grades may be used). Tentative awards are made using seventh semester grades. Click the link below for a complete list of core courses. 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 PDF opens to new window in order to be considered.

  • Students must complete the minimum core class requirements:

    • English - 4 credits
    • Mathematics - 4 credits
    • Social Sciences - 4 credits
    • Natural Sciences - 3 credits

    Students and counselors should review the complete list of 2012 PROMISE Scholarship Course Requirements.

  • Students must attain an ACT composite score of 22 with a minimum sub-score of 20 in each of the four subject areas (English, Mathematics, Reading and Science); or a combined SAT score of 1020 with at least a minimum sub-score of 490 in Critical Reading and 480 in Mathematics. ACT/SAT scores must be from a national testing administration and cannot be combined from multiple test administrations. The highest scores will be accepted from a single test date.

    • The last opportunity for the class of 2012 to take the ACT to meet PROMISE Scholarship Program eligibility requirements is June 9, 2012.
    • The last opportunity for the class of 2012 to take the SAT to meet PROMISE Scholarship Program eligibility requirements is June 2, 2012.

    The writing portion of the ACT and/or SAT will NOT be used in determining PROMISE eligibility for the class of 2012.

  • One half of a student's credits required for graduation must have been completed in a public or private high school in West Virginia. However, limited exceptions are available for students from West Virginia who commute daily to an out-of-state public or private high school, who qualify as a military dependent under section 6 of the PROMISE Scholarship Program Legislative Rule PDF opens to new window.

  • Students must apply for the scholarship within two years of graduation from high school, unless the applicant entered the United States armed services pursuant to section 5 of the PROMISE Scholarship Program Legislative Rule PDF opens to new window. Only full-time, first-year students may receive initial awards. Students already enrolled at a higher education institution are not eligible to apply except as outlined under Section 2.1.7.1 of the PROMISE Scholarship Program Legislative Rule PDF opens to new window.

  • Students must enroll in a public or private institution of higher education in West Virginia. Click here for a complete list of eligible institutions.

Additional Requirements for Home-Schooled Students

In addition to the criteria outlined above, home-schooled students must:

  • Provide documentation of home-schooled status from their county school board system. This documentation must show that they were home-schooled in the 11th and 12th grades pursuant to the exemption allowed by W.Va. Code 18-8-1.

  • Complete the GED examination and submit official scores to the PROMISE Scholarship Program office by July 1, 2012. A home-schooled applicant must achieve a minimum score of 2500. A home-schooled student must take the GED and submit his or her score, even if the student is enrolled in an online high school program that provides a diploma.



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