The Kalamazoo Promise
May pay up to 100% of in-state tuition and mandatory fees based on continuous KPS enrollment and residency; capped at 145 credits and ten years after graduation. Requires KPS graduation and district residency, generally full-time enrollment, and 2.0 GPA. Accredited four-year HBCUs join in Fall 2027; coverage is not retroactive.
About The Kalamazoo Promise
The Kalamazoo Promise is a donor-funded scholarship for resident graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools. Its design ties the benefit to a student’s school and residency history in the district: the tuition percentage increases with more continuous KPS years. The program maintains a student portal, school advocates, and a list of approved institutions, so the first check should be an individual record review—not just a current address.
The official scale ranges from up to 100% for K–12 to 65% for grades 9–12; later entry may produce no benefit. The cap is 145 credits of in-state tuition and mandatory fees, usable at one institution per semester. Students generally take 12 credits and maintain a 2.0 GPA each term and cumulatively. Any uncovered tuition, housing, food, travel, and other costs need a separate budget.
The process begins in senior year: an online application certifies eligibility and percentage. After selecting a college and obtaining a student ID, submit a Scholarship Acceptance Form so funds can be sent. A separate form is needed for each school where you plan to use the award. The list includes more than 60 Michigan institutions and eligible college, trade, and vocational routes; check the current list before enrolling.
Funding ends at 145 credits, upon earning a bachelor’s degree, or ten years after high-school graduation; military service can extend the window. The satisfactory-progress rules count funded courses and explain appeals, probation, and reinstatement. A withdrawn or failed course may use Promise credits without moving you toward graduation, so speak with an advisor before changing your course load or major.
Beginning Fall 2027, the program says it will cover accredited four-year HBCUs nationwide, including future semesters for scholars already enrolled, but will not reimburse earlier terms. The organization will publish implementation and institution rules; confirm which campus qualifies. For general questions, The Kalamazoo Promise lists 269-337-0037 and an office at 180 E Water St. Compare net price, academic program, and support beyond tuition before choosing a campus.
Who it serves and what it can cover: May pay up to 100% of in-state tuition and mandatory fees based on continuous KPS enrollment and residency; capped at 145 credits and ten years after graduation. Requires KPS graduation and district residency, generally full-time enrollment, and 2.0 GPA. Accredited four-year HBCUs join in Fall 2027; coverage is not retroactive.
How to apply or get help: Apply through the student portal beginning in senior year. Published general contact: 269-337-0037; ask your school’s student advocate about appeals and internal deadlines. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
Place-based tuition scholarship for Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates