CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System remind students that the deadlines to apply for the merit-based financial aid program Promise Scholarship and the need-based West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program (HEGP) for the 2025-2026 academic year are quickly approaching. High school seniors may apply for the $5,500 annual Promise award until March 1; and the $3,400 Higher Education Grant annual award until April 15.
“The Promise Scholarship and Higher Education Grant open doors of opportunity for West Virginia’s students,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “I encourage this year’s high school seniors to complete the FAFSA and apply for our state’s financial aid programs, and to reach out to our office for support.”
“In addition, anyone planning to enroll in college within the next 12 months should file the FAFSA to see if they are eligible for the HEGP,” Chancellor Tucker added. “This includes adult first-time students and those returning to college to retrain.”
The Promise Scholarship eligibility requirements for the class of 2025 are:
- ACT: 21 composite score with a minimum of 19 in English, math, science, and reading.
- SAT: 1080 total score with a minimum of 510 in math, evidence-based reading, and writing.
The Promise Scholarship application and other eligibility requirements are available at cfwv.com/promise. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to access all state and federal financial aid and serves as the application for the HEGP, can be completed online at fafsa.gov.
For assistance filing the FAFSA or with applications, students and families are encouraged to call the state’s financial aid hotline at 877-987-7664. Students are also encouraged to sign up for West Virginia’s text-message college counseling program, “Txt 4 Success,” by visiting cfwvconnect.com/txt-4-success/.