March 1 deadline approaching for West Virginia high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship

CHARLESTON, WV – High school seniors in the class of 2023 planning to apply for West Virginia’s Promise Scholarship have until March 1 to complete both the Promise application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through Promise, qualifying high school graduates receive annual awards of up to $5,000 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at West Virginia colleges and universities.

“We are encouraging West Virginia’s current high school seniors to fill out the FAFSA to see what kind of financial aid they’re eligible for, and to complete the Promise application as soon as possible,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “Since Promise was established, more than 67,000 students from all 55 counties have been awarded nearly $850 million to attend college in West Virginia. Now is the time for current seniors to join these ranks, and our office is here to support them along the way.”

The Promise application and eligibility requirements can be found at CollegeForWV.com/promise. Students are also encouraged to call the state’s free financial aid hotline at 877-987-7664 or send an email to promise@wvhepc.edu for assistance.

The FAFSA is free and available at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The FAFSA is the first and most important step for high school seniors planning to pursue postsecondary education. In West Virginia, FAFSA completion is required not only for Promise, but also for other programs, including the West Virginia Invests Grant and West Virginia Higher Education Grant.

Each year, West Virginia provides millions of dollars in scholarships and grants, making college affordable for in-state students seeking postsecondary education at public community and technical colleges and four-year universities. Information on each of the state’s financial aid programs is available at CollegeForWV.com.

While filing the FAFSA can be intimidating, CFWV.com, West Virginia’s free portal for planning, applying, and paying for college, has tools to help students with the form. Students can also sign up for West Virginia’s Txt 4 Success program to receive free text message reminders of important deadlines, tips, and interactive advice.

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