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 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.

Who it serves and what it can cover: 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.

How to apply or get help: 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. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information