Promise FAQs
- Do I need to apply for the Promise Scholarship?
- Can Promise be used in addition to WVU scholarships?
- Can I appeal my Promise Scholarship eligibility?
- Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive my Promise Scholarship?
- May I take a leave of absence from college without losing Promise?
Do I need to apply for the Promise Scholarship?
Yes, there is an application for Promise. The application becomes available October 1 must be submitted by March 1 for the upcoming academic year. Students are also required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) via the Federal Student Aid FAFSA website by March 1. Visit the CFWV Promise Scholarship webpage for more information. The 2024-2025 deadline has been extended to September 1 due to the delayed FAFSA launch.
Can Promise be used in addition to WVU scholarships?
In most cases, if you qualify for Promise it may be "stacked" with (used in addition to) WVU scholarships. However, there are exceptions. For example, recipients of the Foundation Scholarship may not receive both Promise and the Foundation Scholarship. Promise is tuition and fee specific, so if a student has other aid which is specifically meant to apply to tuition and fees, one must be reduced. Also, financial aid cannot be more than the student's cost of attendance for financial aid purposes.
Can I appeal my Promise Scholarship eligibility?
If you feel you have special circumstances or are eligible for Promise, please submit the Scholarship Exception Request appropriate for your situation. Depending on the reason for the appeal, the WVU Hub may need to request that the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission review and make a final decision on your request.
Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive my Promise Scholarship?
The WV state regulations for the Promise Scholarship require a student to be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) in degree-pursuant coursework during a semester. An exception is for students in their final academic year of Promise eligibility – who do not need to be enrolled full-time to receive the scholarship. However, their courses must still be degree-pursuant. The amount of the scholarship may be prorated based on enrollment. Students may request this adjustment by submitting an Institutional Scholarship Exception Request. For more information, please visit our Scholarship Exception Requests webpage. Also, please remember that Promise renewal requirements state you must have 30 earned credit hours in order to renew the scholarship for the following academic year. The earned hours requirement for renewal does not require all 30 hours to be degree-pursuant.
May I take a leave of absence from college without losing Promise?
Promise students who have an approved medical or family emergency leave of absence from their college of attendance may continue their scholarship upon return without loss of eligibility or benefit as long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility standards. If a student needs to miss an upcoming semester, an official leave of absence can be found at registrar.wvu.edu/forms. Contact the Office of the University Registrar or your academic advisor for more information.
We highly recommend you review the CFWV Promise Scholarship FAQ webpage for current leave of absence policies.
Students granted an approved leave will have their Promise academic review cycle affected. For example, a student who attends the fall semester but receives an approved leave of absence for the spring semester will still be reviewed at the end of the spring semester for the following aid year. They must show 15 credit hours earned for the fall semester attended (provided they return from their approved leave as planned) and be meeting the GPA requirements for Promise. If they did not meet the requirements within the semester attended, they may choose to attend summer to attempt to increase their earned hours and/or overall GPA to maintain Promise.