Apply for the Promise Scholarship

Your Promise of a Bright Future Starts Here. The Promise Scholarship will pay $5,500 per year or the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less, at any eligible institution.

Student in college building.

Apply for the Promise Scholarship

Step 1: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

All applicants must submit a completed 2025-26 FAFSA by the March 1, 2025, deadline to be eligible. A student’s FAFSA must meet the conditions for processing by the deadline.

The 2025-26 FAFSA is currently available to complete at StudentAid.gov/FAFSA.


Step 2: Promise Application

The 2025-2026 Promise Application opens October 1, 2024. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.

You must create a West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM) account, verify your email address, then log in to submit your Promise Scholarship application.

*If you do not have a WVSAM Account, you will need to create one. After creating the account, you will be sent an email (may be in your junk/spam) with a link to create your password then log in. Once logged in, navigate to the My Applications section, click New and select Promise Scholarship then hit Next.


Summer Promise Application

The Summer Promise application opens March 15 and has a May 15 priority deadline. Applications may be submitted after May 15 until the final June 15 deadline.

Click here for details about Summer Promise eligibility and to apply.

Timeline Action Steps

October 1, 2024

The Promise application opens.

December 1, 2024

The 2025-26 FAFSA opens.

April / May

Initial award notifications are sent to Promise Scholars by their preferred method of contact, indicated on WVSAM account creation.

June 2025: SAT

Last date to take the SAT to establish scholarship eligibility. Scores will not be accepted for any SAT taken after June 2025.

July 2025: ACT

Last date to take the ACT (national test only) to establish scholarship eligibility. Scores will not be accepted for any ACT taken after July 2025.