Detroit Promise Scholarship: Eligibility and Requirements
The Detroit Promise Scholarship offers a remarkable opportunity for students residing in Detroit to pursue higher education. Managed by the Detroit Regional Chamber in collaboration with the city's Detroit Promise Zone, this scholarship aims to provide a tuition-free pathway to a bachelor's degree for eligible Detroit-resident students graduating from a Detroit high school. This article will delve into the eligibility requirements, the award details, and the renewal criteria for the Detroit Promise Scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Detroit Promise Scholarship, students must meet specific requirements pertaining to residency and high school attendance. The applicant must be a resident of the city of Detroit from the 9th through the 12th grades. The Detroit Promise supports high school seniors who attend all four years and graduate from any Detroit high school, including Detroit Public Schools, Education Achievement Authority (EAA) schools, charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, and home schools. Promise scholars must also apply for federal financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Award Details
The Detroit Promise is a tuition-only scholarship. The scholarship is calculated as a "last-dollar" scholarship, which means it covers the remaining balance of college tuition and mandatory course fees after grants and other scholarships are received. The amount of the award covers tuition and selected fees at participating institutions. Students are generally required to be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) to receive the scholarship. The award amount may be adjusted based on the student's Federal Pell Grant eligibility; the two awards will be combined to fully cover tuition and fees.
At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, renewable full-tuition (in-state rate) scholarships are awarded annually. Funding from Detroit Promise will cover up to the full cost of tuition and standard fees (matriculation, registration and student service fees) at the in-state rate minus federal, state and other university merit or need-based aid.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) Pathway to Promise program (formally known as the CCS Bridge Program) is for academically and artistically committed Detroit high school juniors and seniors. CCS partners with the Detroit Promise to award up to 10 Scholarships to Detroit students. The Detroit Promise Scholarship is funded by College for Creative Studies, and covers any remaining tuition and mandatory fee expense after all federal and state aid has been awarded. The Detroit Promise Scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees at CCS for each student, for 4 years. Being a member of the CCS Pathway to Promise program does not guarantee you a Detroit Promise Scholarship, though P2P members will receive updates, reminders, and assistance with the application process to ensure access to the program. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
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University students are encouraged to start classes in the Fall after their graduation. If you are considering a gap year, once you have been verified for your college you must reach out to the financial aid office for gap year approval.
Scholarship Renewal
The Detroit Promise Scholarship is renewable, provided that the student meets certain academic requirements and maintains satisfactory progress. Full in-state tuition scholarships are renewable for six semesters, three years (a total of eight consecutive terms received) or the completion of a bachelor's degree, whichever occurs first. To retain the award student must file the annual FAFSA, maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, maintain full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours per semester) during the fall and winter semesters, must pass a minimum of 12 credits each fall and each winter semester and meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress required by all financial aid recipients.
If a student earns a bachelor's degree in less than four years, their scholarship will terminate at that time.
Additional Information
The Detroit Promise team is dedicated to helping students succeed throughout their college journey. Students who have questions or concerns about their scholarship eligibility or award amount can inquire about a Scholarship appeal with their school’s financial aid office. Unfortunately, if your appeal is denied or your school does not offer appeals, you are no longer eligible for Detroit Promise funding. Each college has its own disbursement dates when scholarships are applied to accounts. Please contact your college’s financial aid office to inquire about their disbursement date.
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