Promise and Financial Aid

How to apply for Financial Aid

The Promise Scholarship is a Last Dollar scholarship. This means that It covers remaining tuition once Pell and other grants (as determined through completion of the FAFSA) and scholarships have been applied.

The Promise Scholarship pays tuition only.
The Promise Scholarship is a Fall and Spring only scholarship - it does not cover Summer tuition.

The Promise Scholarship does not cover fees. All students enrolled in credit courses will be assessed fees. View a complete list of fees.

Grants, such as Pell, MAP, DRS and any other scholarships are applied to a student’s tuition first, regardless of the amount awarded. If grant or scholarship money remains after paying for tuition, those funds are applied toward fees.

If after all financial aid at the college has disbursed a balance remains, students will be notified of the final amount and a personalized payment due date. This will happen around the middle of the semester (Mid-October for Fall, Mid-March for Spring).

Tuition rates and course fees may change annually.

The Promise Scholarship pays tuition up to a maximum of 60 credit hours.
The FAFSA must be submitted by May 15th each year.

Below are a few examples to assist in understanding the financial details of how the Promise Scholarship pays on a student account. Every student’s situation will differ depending on course registration and financial aid awards.

The examples are based on Fall 2023 tuition and fees**.

EXAMPLE 1

Student registers for 15 credit hours and is NOT eligible for any PELL or MAP grants.

Credit Hours	In District Tuition	Registration Fee	Activity Fee	Universal Fee	Total
15	$2,032.50	$15.00	$42.00	$285	$2,374.50

Costs	Grants (Applied to tuition 1^st, fees 2^nd)	Promise (Tuition only)	Student Responsibility
Tuition - $2,032.50	Pell - $0	Tuition - $2,032.50	Tuition - $0
Fees - $342	MAP - $0	Fees - $0	Fees - $342
Total Charges– $2,374.50	Total paid by Grants- $0	Total paid by Promise - $2,032.50	Total Owed - $342

EXAMPLE 2

Student registers for 15 credit hours and is eligible for Maximum PELL ($6,095/year = $3,047.50/semester) and MAP ($3,408/year = $1,704/semester) grants.

Credit Hours	In District Tuition	Registration Fee	Activity Fee	Universal Fee	Total
15	$2,032.50	$15.00	$42.00	$285	$2,374.50

Costs	Grants (Applied to tuition 1^st, fees 2^nd)	Promise (Tuition only)	Student Responsibility
Tuition - $2,032.50	Pell - $3,047.50	Tuition - $0	Tuition - $0
Fees - $342	MAP - $1,704	Fees - $0	Fees - $0
Total Charges– $2,374.5	Total paid by Grants- $4,751.50	Total paid by Promise - $0**	Total Owed- $0

**When the grants or other scholarships cover all of the tuition for the current semester, it is recommended that a student continues to meet Promise requirements as grant/other scholarship eligibility may change from year to year. In addition, students who complete their degree as a Promise Scholar will get special recognition at graduation.

EXAMPLE 3

Student registers for 15 credit hours with one laboratory course (lab fee applies), and is eligible for partial PELL ($784/year = $392/semester) and partial MAP ($680/year, $340/semester) grants.

Credit Hours	In District Tuition	Registration Fee	Activity Fee	Labratory Fee	Universal Fee	Total
15	$2,032.50	$15.00	$42.00	$20.00	$285	$2,374.50

Costs	Grants (Applied to tuition 1^st, fees 2^nd)	Promise (Tuition only)	Student Responsibility
Tuition - $2,032.50	Pell - $392	Tuition - $1,300.50	Tuition - $0
Fees - $362	MAP - $340	Fees - $0	Fees - $362
Total Charges– $2,394.50	Total paid by Grants- $732	Total paid by Promise - $1,300.50	Total Owed – $362

**Cost of Attendance Information