The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship
Up to $5,000 per year and $20,000 maximum for eligible costs after other aid; the class of 2028 is the final planned cohort. Students must have lived in Pittsburgh continuously since ninth grade, attended PPS or a PPS charter since ninth grade, and graduate with a 2.5 unweighted GPA and 90% attendance; a limited Extension exception exists.
About The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship
The Pittsburgh Promise is a community scholarship for students who have lived and attended high school within Pittsburgh Public Schools or a district-authorized charter school. It is administered as last-dollar aid: after other funding is considered, it may contribute up to $5,000 per year, with a $20,000 lifetime maximum, toward eligible postsecondary expenses in Pennsylvania. The official information says the graduating class of 2028 is the final planned class to receive the scholarship, so families with students in high school should verify the cohort early.
Standard eligibility requires graduating from a PPS high school, living continuously in the City of Pittsburgh since at least ninth grade, and continuously attending a PPS or PPS-charter school since ninth grade. At graduation, students need a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.50 or higher and at least 90% attendance. Students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 may access a one-year extension at certain designated high schools; this is not a general exception for every applicant.
Apply through the Promise Student Portal. The organization sends seniors access instructions and an identifier; the portal lets students check eligibility, update contact details, sign the FERPA release, and add colleges. The Promise asks students to complete the FAFSA and PA State Grant/PHEAA form every year; its application page lists May 1 as a key date. If an academic or residency requirement was missed, the organization explains an appeal process on its site.
The $5,000 annual maximum is not necessarily paid as cash and does not mean $20,000 is immediately available. The Promise pays eligible expenses after other grants and scholarships; its FAQ lists tuition, fees, housing, food, and books. Colleges invoice the organization each term. Funds must be used within five years of high-school graduation and continued funding depends on college GPA and academic progress. Ask the college financial-aid office for an itemized estimate of what the award will leave unpaid.
A student graduating in 2028 should ask a counselor to confirm the school participates, verify residency and attendance from ninth grade, and open the portal at the start of senior year. Submit FAFSA and PHEAA by the cycle deadline and apply for other scholarships, because Promise deducts eligible grants and institutional aid before calculating the remaining balance. For special situations, email info@pittsburghpromise.org or call 412-281-7605. Do not wait until college enrollment to discover that a high-school document is missing.
Who it serves and what it can cover: Up to $5,000 per year and $20,000 maximum for eligible costs after other aid; the class of 2028 is the final planned cohort. Students must have lived in Pittsburgh continuously since ninth grade, attended PPS or a PPS charter since ninth grade, and graduate with a 2.5 unweighted GPA and 90% attendance; a limited Extension exception exists.
How to apply or get help: Applications are handled through the Promise Student Portal; FAFSA and the PHEAA/PA State Grant form must be completed each year, and the application page lists May 1 as a key date. Contact: info@pittsburghpromise.org, 412-281-7605. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
Community last-dollar scholarship for eligible Pittsburgh Public Schools and charter graduates