The Kansas Promise Act Scholarship is a state service-obligation award for residents pursuing associate degrees or certificates in high-demand, high-wage, or critical-need fields. Participating community and technical colleges, Washburn Institute of Technology, and certain approved private institutions take part. It does not fund a bachelor’s degree by itself; verify that your exact program appears on your institution’s list.
For 2026–27, the Board of Regents lists U.S. citizenship, Kansas residency, household-size income limits, and eligibility routes based on recent graduation, equivalency, long-term residency, or other statutory conditions. You must file FAFSA and agree to complete the program within the state deadline. The guide lists a $100,000 cap for households of one or two, $150,000 for three, and $4,800 more for each additional person.
Aid is calculated using approved program cost, FAFSA, and other funding, with awards made in order of completed files until funds run out. In exchange, after completing the program, the student must live and work in Kansas for 24 consecutive months, start work within six months, and sign a binding agreement. Failure to fulfill service or leaving the program may require repayment plus interest; read the terms before accepting.
The Spring 2027 deadline is March 1, 2027, but applications may close early if funds are exhausted. Summer and Fall 2026 dates have passed. File FAFSA, apply through the institution’s portal, and sign the agreement before the deadline. Before choosing, ask whether your certificate and campus are approved, how employment is verified, and what happens if you change programs or move out of state.
Do not compare programs by the phrase “free tuition” alone. Ask the college for a written budget separating tuition, mandatory fees, books, transportation, housing, and meals, and ask which other grants are deducted before this award is calculated. A last-dollar scholarship may cover only eligible charges left after Pell and institutional aid.
Keep confirmation for every application and check your student portal: FAFSA/CADAA, residency verification, a transcript, education plan, or data-release consent may still be missing. If the current cycle deadline has passed, ask whether an appeal or late list exists, but prepare for the next cycle without assuming late documents will be accepted. Use the linked profiles to identify the administrator and official channel.
Aid can affect other awards and renewals. Before dropping credits, changing campuses, taking a break, or accepting a loan, ask in writing how your award would be recalculated and what academic progress is required. A published maximum is not an individual offer: the final amount depends on funding, eligible charges, other aid, and your file.
Kansas Promise Act Scholarship — Kansas Board of Regents.
2026–2027 Promise Scholarship PDF — Kansas Board of Regents.
Kansas Promise Scholarship Statute — Kansas Legislature.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Past deadlines are identified as such; eligibility does not guarantee an award. Before enrolling, confirm the current cycle, available funding, and covered charges with the program and your college financial-aid office.
Kansas Promise offers training aid in exchange for Kansas residency and work; understand the legal agreement before accepting.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Kansas Promise Act Scholarship
Approved associate or certificate program cost; requires living and working in Kansas for two years after completion.
State scholarship with a residency and employment commitment
Kansas Board of Regents Student Financial Aid
Publishes state aid, eligible-program lists, and application schedules.
Kansas state higher-education and scholarship authority
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Kansas Legislature · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Kansas Promise Act Scholarship ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Kansas Board of Regents Student Financial Aid ↗
Primary source
Kansas Board of Regents · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.