Class of 2027 & After
Application Opens October 1, 2026!

The Promise is a place-based scholarship that requires residency in Mason County for at least a year, including senior year of high school/year prior to graduation or GED.  Applicants who reside in the boundaries of their Mason County-based public school district may also qualify.  For the statewide scholarship & community transfer award, applicants must have graduated from high school in 2027 or after.  Graduation from high school or GED is required.  Verification documents will be requested if you did not graduate from a Mason County-based public high school.​​

Approved Promise Scholars from class of 2027 and after can select one Promise Scholarship Path:

• Community Scholarship: For use initially for up to 72 credits at West Shore Community College. After scholars successfully complete attempted credits (C or better), they are eligible for a one-time Transfer Award for the first transfer year at any other Michigan-based college/university that accepts federal financial aid. (Must be used within 6 years of high school graduation.  The Community Scholarship can be used at WSCC for up to 72 attempted credits. The  Transfer Award is for use during one academic year--no renewals.)

• Statewide Scholarship: For use toward full-time study at any Michigan-based post-secondary instituion that accepts federal financial aid.  This is a one-time award for first-year students that can be used at any Michigan-based college/university (except WSCC) that accepts federal financial aid. All funds for Statewide Scholarship must be awarded within 15 months (two falls) after high school graduation, within one academic year (no renewals).

• Complete the Promise Application: The 2027 Promise Expansion Application will be available to class of 2027 high school seniors in fall 2027.  Please check back for the application at that time. 

• The Promise requires that all applicants complete the FAFSA and provide proof of completion to the Promise with the college they'll be using the Promise at listed first.  The state of Michigan sends this about 3-5 days to after your FAFSA is PROCESSED to the email used to apply to the FAFSA. The 2027-28 FAFSA opens for class of 2027 on October 1, 2026.  

• If you do not have access to the FAFSA because of circumstances outside of your control, contact the Promise Director to see if you qualify for a waiver (info@masoncountypromise.org).

• Apply to Colleges:  Be sure to work with your high school's post-secondary advisor to get support.  Most college applications open on October 1st, and the acceptance process may take several weeks, so plan ahead.  You can save time and money by applying in Michigan using the "Direct Admit" program or the Common App. Only Michigan-based Title IV insitutions (accepting federal student aid) are eligible for Promise funds. Submti your initial Promise application by Mar. 1.

• Weigh Options: Once you receive your acceptance notices, review financial aid offers and compare the programs you are interested in.

• Make a Choice: If using the Community Scholarship, you must choose WSCC when applying to the Promise.  If opting for the Statewide Scholarship or Transfer Award, you must enter a college you plan to attend.  If you choose to enroll somewhere else, be sure to update your Promise application (apply again) and submit the corrected college choice prior to May 1st (Decision Day).  

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The Promise will send scholarship notices by mail after high school graduation is confirmed in late May/early June.

Documents to Confirm your Scholarship/Award Include:

• Proof of Enrollment (Acceptance Letter)

• Proof of Registration (Fall Schedule)

• Financial Aid Award Notice from College/University

• FERPA Release from College/University to Mason County Promise

• Student ID Number

• Updated WSCC Transcript (Community Scholarship renewal application or Transfer Award Only)​

Students in high school can submit these documents with the help of their post-secondary advisor (LHS, MCCHS, & MCEHS) or by submitting a second Application at MasonCountyPromise.org, or by emailing them to info@masoncountypromise.org.

• The Promise will send your one-time scholarship directly to your institution.  Overall award amount cannot exceed your institution's posted Cost of Attendance

• Your institution will apply gift aid to your college costs (tuition, fees, housing, meal plan) first, then will apply state aid, and then the Promise and other outside scholarships/awards.  Most institutions will split the Promise award amount to cover multiple semesters in the first year of attendance at that instituion.  The Promise Statewide Scholarship or Transfer Award funds can only be applied in one academic year.

• If the amount of Promise funding awarded exceeds your tution, fees, housing and meal plan costs, the insitution will issue a refund for the amount directly to the enroled student after the drop period for the semester has ended.  If the Promise funding, in combination with all other aid, exceeds the total cost of attendance, or if the student drops, withdraws or does not attend more than one semester in a multi-semester program/academic year, the excessive or remaining award amount will be forfeited and returned to the Promise Zone.

• Statewide Scholarships and Transfer Awards are non-renewable and cannot be used in more than one academic/program year.

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Statewide Scholars may transfer back to WSCC for the Community Scholarship or use the Promise as a "Summer Guest"  if they have not exceeded 72 attempted credits.  Statewide Scholars are INELIGIBLE for the Transfer Award.

• The Promise will send high school senior applicants a notice in the mail in late May/early June, after graduation and residency have been verified.  

• Attend WSCC orientation or meet with an advisor to get recommendations on what classes to take, and register for classes.

• The Promise will fund up to 72 total attempted credits at WSCC (all post-secondary attempted credits from all colleges are counted; dual enrollment/CTE or early college credits are not).  The Promise pays WSCC directly for tuition and mandatory fees after federal/state aid is applied.  Students will not recieve a refund from this portion of the Promise award.  Students who qualify for an educational expenses award (and do not use it all in the bookstore online) may receive amounts related to unused Educational Expenses Award back, in the form of a refund issued by WSCC's financial aid office. 

• Approved scholars attending WSCC must register for classes by August 1st for the following fall.  If taking a gap year, students must "renew" to use their scholarship prior to August 1st of the year they plan to start attending, within the 6-year availability time-frame.

• Scholars using the Promise at WSCC must "renew" their Promise, FAFSA and provide thedocumentation each year:

  • Updated College Transcript(s)

  • Proof of annual FAFSA Completion

• ​Students intending to transfer should "renew" their Promise and complete the Transfer Award section of the application by May 1, prior to transferring, see step 5.