West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), Division of Financial Aid
Merit scholarship for West Virginia high school graduates: up to $5,500 a year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less) at an eligible West Virginia college.
- How much
- Up to $5,500 per year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less)
- Who qualifies
- West Virginia high school graduate (half of credits in WV) with 3.0+ overall GPA and ACT 21 / SAT 1080; student and parent WV residents 12 months before the deadline; apply within two years of HS graduation; full-time first-year enrollment at an eligible WV college.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- When to apply
- Open now · due March 1, 2027 Annual; application and FAFSA open October 1, due March 1 of senior year. Late applicants may get a spring award if funds allow. Summer Promise: March 15 - June 15 (priority May 15).
- How to apply
- 1) File the 2027-28 FAFSA (opened October 1, 2026)
- 2) Create a WVSAM account at CFWV.com, then submit the Promise Scholarship application under My Applications
- Both by March 1, 2027
- Apply even if your grades or test scores aren't final yet
- Send ACT (code 4539) / SAT (code 3456) scores to WVHEPC if you test outside West Virginia
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application + transcript + test scores
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (cfwv.com), page 2, page 3, page 4 and page 5
The details
Pays up to $5,500 per year ($2,750 per semester) or the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less, at an eligible West Virginia public or independent two- or four-year college. Class of 2027 requirements: complete West Virginia high school graduation requirements at a WV public or private high school (at least half of credits earned in WV; limited exceptions for daily out-of-state commuters, military dependents, homeschoolers and approved alternative programs such as Mountaineer Challenge Academy with a high school equivalency), an overall high school GPA of at least 3.0, and an ACT composite of 21 or SAT total of 1080 (superscores allowed; last qualifying tests: SAT June 2027, ACT July 2027). Student and parent must have lived in West Virginia for 12 consecutive months before the deadline. Only full-time first-year students receive initial awards; must apply within two years of high school graduation (armed-services exception). Renewal: 2.75 overall college GPA each year and at least 30 credit hours earned per academic year (15 for a single-semester award); no reapplication or FAFSA needed to renew. Limits: 8 semesters for a bachelor's program, 4 for an associate program, used within six years. A one-time 'Second Chance Promise Renewal' lets a student who lost the award make up the deficiency and be reinstated. Summer Promise: current recipients can apply (opens March 15, priority May 15, final June 15) for a summer award of up to $2,750 that counts as a semester of use. Cannot be used out of state. Awards depend on annual legislative funding.
More money from West Virginia
- West Virginia Higher Education GrantUp to $3,400 per year at eligible West Virginia schools; up to $600 per year at eligible Pennsylvania schools (2026-27)
- Future Workforce Grant (formerly HEAPS Workforce)Up to $2,000 per academic year
- Reduced Tuition for Senior Citizens (60 and older)Non-credit: up to $50 per course; for credit: no more than 50% of normal resident tuition and fees
- West Virginia Invests GrantTuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not covered by other grants or waivers (last-dollar)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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