March 1 deadline approaching for PROMISE Scholarship applications

Charleston, W.Va. – High school seniors in the class of 2016 planning to apply for West Virginia’s PROMISE Scholarship program have until March 1 to complete the required forms, the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission office reminded students and families today. Through PROMISE, qualifying high school graduates receive annual awards of up to $4,750 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at eligible West Virginia higher education institutions.

“Since the PROMISE program started, more than $400 million has been provided to more than 35,000 West Virginia students from all 55 counties to attend a public or independent college or university in the state,” said Dr. Paul Hill, the Commission’s Chancellor. “We encourage students to see if they’re qualified and apply for this program, which represents a strong investment by the state in their future.”

By March 1, students applying for the PROMISE Scholarship must complete two steps: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the PROMISE application.

To qualify for the PROMISE Scholarship, students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent of a “B” average based on county board grading policies, in both core courses and overall coursework required for graduation. Students also must earn at least a 22 ACT composite score or a 1020 combined reading/math SAT score with required minimum sub-scores in each section by the June 2016 testing dates.

For more information on PROMISE eligibility requirements and the application process, visit the state’s free college-planning resource, the College Foundation of West Virginia, at www.cfwv.com. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.gov.

The Commission also offers a financial aid hotline – 888-825-5707 – for individual questions and to schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor.

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