West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship — West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

PROMISE is West Virginia’s merit-based state scholarship; it does not use the same need test as the West Virginia Higher Education Grant. For students finishing high school in 2027, CFWV has posted the new cohort rules: applicants must be residents, begin as full-time first-year students, satisfy high-school requirements and submit both the PROMISE application and FAFSA by March 1, 2027. Students already enrolled in higher education generally cannot apply for an initial award, subject to exceptions in the state rule.

The 2027 academic list includes a minimum 3.0 overall high-school GPA, at least half of graduation credits earned at a West Virginia high school, and twelve continuous months of residency for the student and parent or guardian reported on FAFSA, with limited military exceptions. Applicants also need ACT 21 or SAT 1080; CFWV allows superscoring for the 2027–28 cohort. Even if grades or test scores are not yet complete, the official instruction is to submit the application and FAFSA by the deadline, then complete score requirements by the later dates the program publishes.

Do not treat a prior class’s award as a promise for your class. The maximum reported for 2026–27 recipients was $5,500; the 2027 class requirements page does not confirm that the same amount will apply in 2027–28. A state scholarship also may not cover housing, meals, books, transportation, program fees or a major’s added costs. Calculate each campus’s cost of attendance, check renewal and credit-load rules, and ask financial aid for a net balance that separates grants, loans and work-study.

WVU student discussions return to the same problem: even someone who qualifies for both Promise and the need-based grant may still be trying to cover a dorm, meals and everyday expenses. Public replies about the financial-aid office conflict, so they are useful for preparing questions, not judging staff or establishing your own entitlement. A first-generation applicant was also advised to compare community college and transfer; that can save money, but commenters noted that not every campus offers the intended major. Check the degree map and course equivalencies first.

For the 2027 cohort, submit the PROMISE application and FAFSA by March 1, 2027, even if you are still waiting for a test score; the page says a late application may allow only a spring award, if funds are available, and not fall 2027. Contact promise@wvhepc.edu about your class’s rules. The Commission’s office is at 2001 Union Carbide Drive, South Charleston, WV 25303; its main office lists 304-558-0699. Confirm cohort updates and get eligibility, renewal and award terms in writing before committing to tuition or housing.