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Jessica Tice
304-558-0699
jessica.tice@wvhepc.edu

West Virginia’s college scholarship and grant applications now open, FAFSA delayed this year

October 4, 2023

CHARLESTON, WV – All of West Virginia’s state financial aid programs are now accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year, the state higher education office announced today. West Virginia offers more than $100 million annually in financial aid for college. This includes the merit-based Promise Scholarship, needs-based Higher Education Grant, and West Virginia Invests – the state’s tuition-free community college program. “As this year’s high school seniors look to the future, now is the time to start exploring the many financial support programs West Virginia offers them,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “Through our wide selection of…

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April 15 deadline for Higher Education Grant Program approaching; award amount increased for next year

April 5, 2023

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System remind students that April 15 is the deadline to apply for the Higher Education Grant Program (HEGP), the state’s need-based financial aid program. The Commission recently voted to increase the award, which helps cover the cost of tuition and fees at two- and four-year colleges and universities, to $3,300 for the 2023-24 school year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the only application required to be considered for the grant, can be completed online at fafsa.gov. “The Higher Education Grant is a lifeline…

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West Virginia’s Promise scholars will earn more money for college next year; deadline to apply is May 1

West Virginia’s Promise scholars will earn more money for college next year; deadline to apply is May 1

March 8, 2023

CHARLESTON, WV – In a special meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for current high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship until May 1, 2023. The Commission also approved increasing the award amount for the 2023-24 academic year to $5,200, up from the previous amount of $5,000 annually. “Our high school seniors have been working so hard to stay on track for their futures, and we want to give them every opportunity to access the support they need to continue their education after they graduate,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker,…

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Mother and daughter smiling while looking at laptop with text: March 1 deadline approaching for West Virginia high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship

March 1 deadline approaching for West Virginia high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship

January 23, 2023

CHARLESTON, WV – High school seniors in the class of 2023 planning to apply for West Virginia’s Promise Scholarship have until March 1 to complete both the Promise application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through Promise, qualifying high school graduates receive annual awards of up to $5,000 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at West Virginia colleges and universities. “We are encouraging West Virginia’s current high school seniors to fill out the FAFSA to see what kind of financial aid they’re eligible for, and to complete the Promise application as soon as possible,”…

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Deadline approaching for high school seniors interested in becoming WV teachers to apply for $40,000 scholarship

December 13, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – Current high school seniors who are interested in becoming teachers in West Virginia have until December 31 of this year to apply for the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program. This scholarship, now entering its fourth year, provides up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for 25 new scholars each year from a national applicant pool. “Teaching is one of the most important and rewarding careers a student can choose to pursue. Our Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars represent West Virginia’s most promising future teachers, and we’re ready to welcome even…

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State selects 27 students for West Virginia’s prestigious teaching scholarship

July 1, 2022

Incoming college freshmen will receive $40,000 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award CHARLESTON, WV – Twenty-seven high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s third cohort of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. These students will receive the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their college education as they prepare to pursue rewarding careers as West Virginia teachers. “I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s…

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Promise Scholarship eligibility requirements adjusted for high school graduating classes of 2022 and 2023 

February 16, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – To help more students qualify for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship, the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission has approved temporary changes to the merit-based scholarship program for the high school graduating classes of 2022 and 2023. These adjustments come as students continue working academically to overcome challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.  For students in the high school graduating classes of 2022 and 2023, the test score requirements to qualify for Promise are as follows:   ACT composite score – 21 (regularly 22); ACT English score – 19 (regularly 20); ACT Reading score – 19 (regularly 20); ACT…

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Deadline approaching for high school seniors interested in becoming WV teachers to apply for $40,000 scholarship

December 22, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – Current high school seniors who are interested in becoming teachers in West Virginia have until December 31 of this year to apply for the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program. This scholarship, now entering its third year, provides up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for 25 new scholars each year from a national applicant pool. “Teaching is one of the most important and rewarding careers a student can choose to pursue. Our Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars represent West Virginia’s most promising future teachers, and we’re ready to welcome even…

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State’s financial aid webinar series kicking off Sept. 13 to help West Virginia students and families plan for college

September 9, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – Kicking off Sept. 13, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through April 5, will cover general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and information specific to the Promise Scholarship, West Virginia Invests Grant, Higher Education Grant, Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship. “West Virginia offers more than $100 million each year in financial aid for…

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State unveils new and expanded ‘College for West Virginia’ online tools to help students and families plan, apply, and pay for college

July 14, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia’s central higher education office is expanding and revamping its online presence to make it easier for students and families to explore the state’s wide range of financial aid and college planning programs. West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS) today unveiled “College for West Virginia” as a new and expanded resource for West Virginians planning for postsecondary education. This expansion represents a rebrand of CFWV.com, the state’s college- and career-planning web portal previously known as the College Foundation of West Virginia, and the launch of its sister site,…

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West Virginia names 25 high school graduates as this year’s Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars

July 1, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s second cohort of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. These students will receive the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their college education as they prepare to pursue rewarding careers as West Virginia teachers. “I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor for Higher Education. “We worked with the Legislature and…

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Higher Education Policy Commission honors outgoing chair, approves temporary changes for Promise Scholarship and Higher Education Grant

June 11, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission today honored Huntington attorney Michael J. Farrell, Esq., who has served as the Commission’s chairman for the past four years. Andrew “Drew” Payne III, who has worked in the financial industry for more than 30 years, will succeed Farrell, who will now serve as vice chair. Diana Lewis Jackson, the founder, president and CEO of Action Facilities Management in Morgantown, will continue serving as secretary. “Chairman Farrell is a true champion for our higher education system and students, advocating steadily for West Virginians to have affordable access to public postsecondary…

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This Saturday: College Bound Saturday events offering free financial aid support for West Virginia students at sites statewide

June 8, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – This Saturday, West Virginia students in the high school graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 can receive help navigating the college-planning process during the state’s first-ever “College Bound Saturday” at sites statewide. At these free workshops, students can learn more about state and federal financial aid programs, as well as get direct help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the first step to unlocking funds for college. College Bound Saturday events will be held at the following locations on June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the following locations across…

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West Virginia extends grant deadline, ramps up FAFSA outreach in effort to increase college-going rate among high school graduates

April 30, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – In its regular meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for students applying for the West Virginia Higher Education Grant – the state’s primary need-based financial aid program – to July 1, 2021. This extension comes as West Virginia reports a 2.3 percentage point drop in the state’s college-going rate from 2019 to 2020, with 48.2 percent of last year’s public high school seniors enrolling in college in the summer or fall after graduation. “In close collaboration with the Department of Education, we’ve been working to get West Virginia’s high…

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Deadline for West Virginia high school seniors to apply for Promise Scholarship extended until July 1

March 11, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – In a special meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for current high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship until July 1, 2021. Because of challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for the merit-based scholarship were down 27 percent as of the original March 1 deadline compared to the same time last year, prompting Governor Jim Justice to call for an extended deadline. While the Promise application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are due by July 1, students have until the end of August…

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Governor Justice dedicates funding to provide free ACT testing opportunities for high school seniors applying for Promise Scholarship

March 1, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – Governor Jim Justice today announced that he is dedicating $341,000 in federal CARES Act funding to provide free ACT testing opportunities for high school seniors applying for the Promise Scholarship, making West Virginia the first state in the nation to cover these costs for students because of the COVID-19 emergency. Through this state-sponsored effort, a student will be able to take one free ACT On-Campus exam administered on a college campus in West Virginia. In a normal year, high school seniors register to take the ACT exam at a national testing center, typically held at a local…

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Less than a week remaining for West Virginia high school seniors to apply for Promise Scholarship and be eligible for prizes

February 23, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – The deadline for West Virginia high school seniors in the 2021 graduating class to apply for the Promise Scholarship is now just around the corner. Students have until midnight this Monday, March 1, to complete both the Promise application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the scholarship program, which provides up to $4,750 per year to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at in-state colleges and universities. “We are so proud that West Virginia ranks in the top 10 states for providing financial aid for college. Thanks to…

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College and high school student leaders from across West Virginia join to encourage more students to pursue higher education

January 26, 2021

CHARLESTON, W.VA. – College students representing a dozen higher education institutions met virtually today with more than 30 high school seniors from across West Virginia to discuss ways they can work together to encourage high school students to pursue and plan for postsecondary education. In this inaugural convening of the newly established West Virginia Student Success Leadership Council, student leaders talked about the barriers young people and their families face when planning for college, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and how they can be a positive influence among their peers. “We need young like you to keep advocating,…

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Second prize drawing this Tuesday for students completing Promise Scholarship application and FAFSA

January 8, 2021

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The second of four prize drawings in the “Cool Cash for College” contest is scheduled for this Tuesday, January 12. High school seniors who complete the Promise Scholarship application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are automatically entered into the drawing for prizes that include Apple AirPods, wireless printers, mini refrigerators, and gift cards. “We are so grateful to The Education Alliance for working with us and the West Virginia Department of Education to make this contest possible,”said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Higher Education Chancellor. “Making sure our high school seniors stay on…

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High school seniors who apply for Promise Scholarship and complete the FAFSA eligible for prizes through new statewide contest

December 8, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thanks to an initiative by The Education Alliance, in collaboration with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, current high school seniors who fill out a Promise Scholarship application and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be enrolled in a contest, “Cool Cash for College,” launching today. Seniors who complete both of these steps by March 1, 2021 will be entered into drawings for prizes that include Apple AirPods, wireless printers, mini refrigerators, and gift cards. “We know our seniors are grappling every day with uncertainties around attending school in person, keeping up…

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State provides additional flexibilities to help students qualify for financial aid for college

October 19, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with additional flexibilities in accessing two critical state financial aid programs. These changes come as standardized testing opportunities continue to be uncertain during the COVID-19 crisis. Following today’s vote, high school seniors who graduated in 2020 can now qualify for the Promise Scholarship by taking an ACT or SAT exam by December 31, 2020. High school seniors in the graduating class of 2021 can qualify by taking an exam by August 31, 2021. The test score requirements for Promise remain the same: ACT: 22…

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State launches series of 20 financial aid webinars for students, families preparing for college

August 31, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kicking off tomorrow, September 1, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through the end of April, will cover general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and updates regarding specific programs including the PROMISE Scholarship, West Virginia Invests, the Higher Education Grant, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and the Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship. Financial aid staff will also be…

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Twenty-five high school seniors selected as West Virginia’s first Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars

July 8, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s first Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. These students will receive the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their college education as they prepare to pursue rewarding careers as West Virginia teachers. “I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System. “When…

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ACT on-campus testing available for 2020 PROMISE Scholarship applicants at institutions statewide

June 24, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With national testing dates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has worked with colleges and universities across the state to make ACT on-campus testing available for this year’s graduating high school seniors who have applied for the PROMISE Scholarship. Applicants can qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by earning qualifying scores through on-campus testing by the end of September. Students are encouraged to take the test at the college they plan to attend in the 2020-21 academic year. After testing is complete, the administering college will send scores to the…

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Higher Education Policy Commission extends testing deadline to qualify for PROMISE Scholarship due to COVID-19

April 17, 2020

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with greater flexibilities in qualifying for the PROMISE Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year. With national ACT and SAT testing currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will now be able to qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by taking an ACT or SAT test by the end of October 2020. In addition, students will be able to use scores from residual tests, which are the same as the national ACT or SAT but administered, scored, and accepted by state colleges. “West…

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