The scholarship serves students who live within the City of Grand Rapids and attend and graduate from a designated high school. For cohorts beginning in 2025, the eligibility page specifies attendance at an eligible high school since the start of grade 11; other parts of the site describe older, broader rules. Confirm your class year and school history with Promise Zone before planning enrollment.
At Grand Rapids Community College, the program may cover tuition and mandatory fees for up to 72 attempted credits or five years after high-school graduation, whichever comes first; it also lists a bookstore allocation for books and supplies. Since January 2026, students completing an associate degree at GRCC may seek up to $7,000 per year at Ferris State or Grand Valley State, with possible additional partner funding for a tuition-and-fee gap.
Start by checking city residence and participating-school status, applying to GRCC, completing FAFSA, and attending advising. The program page provides an FAFSA exception for undocumented and DACA students; do not substitute a federal application you cannot file. For transfer funding, apply to the partner university, file FAFSA for that institution, and complete the Intent to Enroll form GRCC sends to eligible students.
Official pages do not summarize residency and school-year rules identically, and the four-year transfer phase has different terms from initial aid. Transfer funding is not a refundable cash award: it is paid to the partner and requires satisfactory academic progress. Request an eligibility determination for your cohort, verify book and fee balances, and ask about the rules if you pursue job training rather than an associate degree.
The safest next step is to ask Promise Zone to review your exact timeline: city residence, grade-11 school, and graduating class. Keep address records and transcripts, because older FAQ language may describe a different cohort. Request a GRCC tuition-and-fee estimate and ask how the bookstore allocation works; if you plan to transfer, review the Ferris or GVSU partnership before completing your associate degree.
Read the aid-program profile and official FAFSA guide; ask the college for an individual balance review.
Promise Zone Eligibility — Grand Rapids Promise Zone.
Get Started — Promise Zone Scholarship — Grand Rapids Community College.
Information checked October 13, 2026 against official sources. Eligibility, funding, and dates depend on the academic year and may change. Tuition aid does not necessarily cover housing, books, transportation, or nonmandatory fees; confirm your situation and award package in writing with the program and financial-aid office.
Compare your net award and excluded costs before committing; the financial-aid office confirms the final balance.
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These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship
The scholarship serves students who live within the City of Grand Rapids and attend and graduate from a designated high school. For cohorts beginning in 2025, the eligibility page specifies attendance at an eligible high school since the start of grade 11; other parts of the site describe older, broader rules. Confirm your class year and school history with Promise Zone before planning enrollment. At Grand Rapids Community College, the program may cover tuition and mandatory
College financial-aid program
Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education
The agency sets rates, eligibility, and caps; the college certifies need, cost, and the individual amount within those limits.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Grand Rapids Promise Zone · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Grand Rapids Community College · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Grand Rapids Promise Zone · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Grand Rapids Community College · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.