Are you a recent high school graduate (or rising senior) who’s trying to decide where to attend college? If, like most students, cost is a primary concern for you, there’s a new reason to choose Salem University.
We’re proud to report that as of March 2024, we now participate in the West Virginia Promise Scholarship program (WV Promise). This scholarship opportunity offers recent high school graduates who live in West Virginia funds to help cover tuition costs for an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
This article provides an overview of the requirements for the WV Promise Scholarship as of June 2024. For complete details, you should visit the College for West Virginia website.
What Is the West Virginia Promise Scholarship?
The West Virginia Promise Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship offered to recent high school graduates by the state of West Virginia. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the WV Promise Scholarship will provide recipients with $5,500 in funding per academic year to help cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Students must meet residency requirements and certain academic standards to qualify for this scholarship opportunity.
Who Is Eligible for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship?
You can apply for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship if you:
- Have lived in West Virginia for at least 12 consecutive months
- Are a junior or senior in high school or have graduated from high school within the last two years
- Have earned at least half your high school credits from a public or private high school in West Virginia (if your parent or guardian is in the military, or if you commute daily to a high school just outside West Virginia, you may qualify for an exception to this requirement)
- Are planning to attend an accredited college or university within West Virginia
- Are planning to attend as a first-year, full-time student (meaning that you can’t apply after you have already started college)
The WV Promise Scholarship program also encourages applicants to complete at least 20 hours of community service before applying, although this is not required.
Because the WV Promise program is a merit-based scholarship opportunity, you’ll also need to meet grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements.
What Academic Standards Do I Need to Meet?
WV Promise Applicants need to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (if your county uses letter grades, this means a B or higher). The GPA requirement applies to your overall GPA, but you must also maintain a 3.0 or B in the following core subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences (history, social studies, civics, etc.)
- Natural Sciences (biology, earth and space science, etc.)
The state provides a specific list of courses that count toward the WV Promise Scholarship’s core coursework requirement. You can review that information at the state’s website here (PDF link).
Students must also obtain minimum scores on standardized college admission tests. You can take either the ACT or the SAT to apply.
ACT scores:
- Minimum composite score of 21
- To achieve your 21 composite score, you cannot have a score below 19 in any of the test’s sub-sections:
- English
- Reading
- Science
- Math
SAT scores:
- Minimum overall score of 1080
- To achieve your 1080 total score, you cannot have a score below 510 in either of the test’s sub-sections:
- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
- Mathematics
You’ll also need to keep your grades up while you’re in college to continue receiving the award. You must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA in your college courses to continue to be eligible for the award.
How Much Does the West Virginia Promise Scholarship Offer?
The amount of funding the WV Promise Scholarship provides is set by the West Virginia legislature and is subject to change at any time. As of June 2024, the WV Promise Scholarship offers recipients up to $5,500 per academic year.
WV Promise Scholarship funding is applied toward tuition and mandatory fees only—you can’t use it to cover books, supplies, or housing costs. The WV Promise Scholarship funding awarded is adjusted based on other financial aid you may receive, such as federal grants.
So, if you were enrolled in a program with tuition and fees costing $8,000 per year and received federal grant money worth $4,000 per year, the WV Promise Scholarship would award you a maximum of $4,000. More details about how the WV Promise award is calculated is available at the College for WV website.
Can I Use the Scholarship to Earn an Associate Degree and Complete a Bachelor’s Degree? Yes. As long as you apply for the WV Promise Scholarship the first year that you enter college, you can complete an associate degree and then transfer to finish your bachelor’s degree. You must also:
- Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75
- Be continuously enrolled in college
- Be a full-time student (defined as earning 15 credits per semester or quarter)
You can receive WV Promise Scholarship funding for a maximum of eight semesters (four years). If you lose your eligibility for the scholarship at any time during your college career, you cannot reapply. You have six years from the date you’re awarded the scholarship to start using it (if you’re a member of the military, this can be extended).
How Do I Apply for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship?
As of June 2024, the application deadline for the WV Promise Scholarship program is September 1. Most years, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) before applying for the WV Promise Scholarship, so the committee can work out how much to award you in funding if you qualify.
However, due to widespread issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, applicants can currently apply for a waiver. This is subject to change.
To complete your application, you will need to:
- Make an account on the West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM) website
- Complete the online application via the WVSAM website
- Take your SAT no later than June or your ACT no later than July (scores are automatically submitted to WVSAM)
If you attended a public high school in West Virginia, your GPA and courses will be automatically submitted to WVSAM. If you attended a private school, commuted to a school just outside West Virginia, or were homeschooled, you will need to submit a separate grade report. Forms for the grade report are available on the College for West Virginia website.
Can Salem University Help Me with My Application?
We can’t help you complete your application for a WV Promise Scholarship, but we are happy to help you find answers to any questions you may have about it. Get in touch with us today to learn more!
