West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship Application Guide 2026

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Key Metric	Details
Award Name	West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship
Host Sponsor / Organization	West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC)
Eligible Nationalities	U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents (Must be West Virginia residents)
Target Student Level	High School Seniors and Recent High School Graduates (First-time Freshmen)
Financial Coverage	Up to $5,500 per year (Renewable for up to 4 years; $22,000 total)
Minimum GPA Requirement	3.0 unweighted cumulative GPA (overall and in core courses)
Application Deadline	March 1 (Annual)
Official Website	CFWV.com – PROMISE Scholarship

Overview & Value

The West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships in USA represent the state’s flagship merit-based grant initiative designed to keep top-performing high school graduates in-state for their college education. Funded through the state legislature and administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), this program ensures that high-achieving local students can pursue higher education with minimal tuition debt.

Selected recipients can earn up to $5,500 annually (or full tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less) at an eligible West Virginia public or independent two-year or four-year institution. Funds are applied directly to tuition and mandatory fees at your campus financial aid office.

Because the award is renewable for up to 4 consecutive undergraduate years (or 8 semesters), a scholar can accumulate up to $22,000 in total financial support. Renewal requires maintaining continuous full-time college enrollment and earning at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA alongside 30 completed credit hours per academic year.

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Nationality & Residency Requirements

To qualify for this award, candidates must meet clear citizenship and state residency parameters:

U.S. Citizenship & Status: You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident holding valid documentation.
West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships international student requirements: International students attending high school under non-immigrant visas (such as F-1 or J-1 visas) are not eligible for state merit awards.
State Residency: Applicants and their parents or legal guardians must have maintained continuous physical residency in West Virginia for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the March 1 application deadline.
High School Location: Students must graduate from an accredited West Virginia public or private high school (or complete an approved home-school program within the state), earning at least half of their total high school graduation credits in-state.

Academic & Eligibility Standards

Before applying, confirm that you fulfill all candidate requirements for West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships eligibility for undergraduate students:

Student Classification: Open to graduating high school seniors entering as first-time, full-time undergraduate freshmen at an eligible West Virginia college or university.
West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships GPA requirement: Candidates must achieve a minimum cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. You must also maintain a 3.0 GPA across core academic courses (English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies).
Standardized Testing Score Thresholds: Applicants must meet one of the following testing criteria before the summer test deadline:
- ACT Composite: Minimum score of 21, with sub-scores of at least 19 in English, Math, Science, and Reading.
- SAT Total Score: Minimum score of 1080, with minimum section scores of 510 in Math and 510 in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing.
West Virginia undergraduate scholarships and grants cross-consideration: PROMISE can be stacked with other state funding like the West Virginia Higher Education Grant (HEGP) and federal Pell Grants up to the full cost of attendance.

Application Materials Needed

To build a complete application package, prepare and submit the following required records:

WVSAM Account Profile: Electronic registration completed on the West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM) portal.
Completed FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid submitted by the state priority deadline.
High School Academic Transcript: Electronic transcripts showing cumulative high school GPA and core course completion, submitted via your school counselor.
Official Test Scores: ACT or SAT score reports sent directly to the WVHEPC review board (ACT code: 4539; SAT code: 0233).

Step-by-Step How to Apply

Follow these action steps during the 2026–2027 cycle to finalize your submission before the official West Virginia PROMISE Scholarships application deadline:

Step 1: Submit Your FAFSA

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at StudentAid.gov. All PROMISE applicants must have a processed FAFSA on file before the March 1 deadline.

Step 2: Complete the State PROMISE Application

Create an account on the West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM) portal at CFWV.com. Complete and submit the PROMISE application prior to the March 1 deadline. (Note: Apply even if you haven’t received your final qualifying test scores yet).

Step 3: Send Qualifying Test Scores and Transcripts

Arrange for your high school counselor to upload your mid-year or final transcripts. Ensure your official ACT or SAT scores are sent to the state portal. Scores from test dates through June (SAT) or July (ACT) of your senior year are accepted to reach the qualification threshold.

Step 4: Track Status in WVSAM

Log into your WVSAM profile periodically to check that all documents, test scores, and FAFSA records have linked properly. Initial award notices are sent via email starting in late spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1: Can international students apply for the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship?

No. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who satisfy 12-month West Virginia state residency rules. Students attending high school on international visas (F-1) are not eligible.

Q 2: Is the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship renewable for all 4 years of undergraduate study?

Yes. The scholarship is renewable for up to 4 consecutive academic years (8 semesters total) for students in a bachelor’s program. Scholars must maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn 30 credit hours per year to stay qualified.

Q 3: What is the minimum GPA required to qualify for the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship?

High school seniors must earn an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as well as a 3.0 GPA in core curriculum subjects. Once in college, students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA to keep their funding.

For more local grants, merit awards, and regional funding across all 50 states, check out our master USA State Scholarships Directory.

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West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship Application Guide 2026–2027: Requirements & Deadline