Other Promise Programs in the USA
In communities around the country, free college tuition is already a reality. From Kalamazoo to
Nashville, students are going to college without the burden of debt thanks to “Promise” programs.
The Promise movement started in 2005 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when a generous but anonymous gift
allowed the city to promise free college tuition at any Michigan institution of higher education to
graduates of the city’s public schools. Since then, the idea has expanded to communities across the
country.
Where Promise programs are not yet a reality, many organizations are working to expand college access
across the country. As a result of their work, more and more people care deeply about this cause.
Kalamazoo Promise
The Kalamazoo Promise covers college tuition and mandatory fees for all students of the Kalamazoo
Public Schools (KPS).
Legacy Scholars
The Legacy Scholars Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship for students of Battle Creek public schools
and the Lakeview School District that provides up to two years of tuition, mandatory fees, and a book
stipend to attend Kellogg Community College.
College Bound Scholarship Program
The College Bound Scholarship Program provides eligible students with up to $10,500 per year toward
tuition at accredited colleges and universities.
Garrett County Scholarship Program
The Garrett County Academic Scholarship was established by the Garrett County Commissioners in
2006 to provide a full tuition scholarship for students pursuing a full-time academic degree or certificate
program at Garrett College. A similar program was established in 2010 for students wishing to
occupational training through programs leading to nationally-recognized industry certification programs.
Peoria Promise
The Peoria Promise covers tuition at Illinois Central College (ICC) after other scholarships and financial
aid awards have been applied.
Pittsburgh Promise
The Pittsburgh Promise provides up to $10,000 per year to eligible graduates of the Pittsburgh Public
Schools and the schools that are chartered by PPS. Promise funds may be used to attend any accredited
undergraduate postsecondary institution in Pennsylvania.
Promise for the Future
This scholarship provides eligible Pinal County, Arizona students free tuition to any Central Arizona
College campus for up to four consecutive semesters.
El Dorado Promise
The El Dorado Promise, established and funded by Murphy Oil Corporation, provides scholarships to all
students who graduate from El Dorado Higher School and been an EPS student since the ninth grade.
The maximum scholarship amount is based on the highest level resident tuition at an Arkansas public
university—currently $7,595.
Hopkinsville Rotary Scholars
The Rotary Scholars Program provides a last dollar scholarship for graduate of four high schools in and
around Hopkinsville, KY to attend Hopkinsville Community College.
Northport Promise
The Northport Promise is a community-funded effort that provides financial assistance to every
graduate of Northport High School who attends a Michigan public institution of higher learning
Say Yes Syracuse
The Syracuse Say Yes Tuition Scholarship guarantees eligible Syracuse City School District students
enrolling in participating SUNY/CUNY colleges that they will receive a grant for any tuition balance after
state, federal and/or institutional scholarships and grants.
Arkadelphia Promise
The Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship supplements the Lottery Scholarship to provide Arkadelphia
public school graduates with the average tuition amount from the four state public colleges in south
Arkansas.
Baldwin Promise
Baldwin’s Promise provides a scholarship of up to $5,000 per year for 4 years to every single graduate
of Baldwin High School regardless of merit or need, for a maximum total of up to $20,000 per student.
The scholarship is designed to make up the difference between tuition/fees and federal/state grants.
Great River Promise
The Arkansas Northeastern Foundation provides this “promise” that covers the full tuition and
mandatory fees for Mississippi County high school graduates to attend Arkansas Northeastern College.
New Haven Promise
New Haven Promise provides scholarships that cover up to 100% tuition at a Connecticut public 2 or 4year college or university for residents and graduates of New Haven Public Schools and approved
charter schools.
Say Yes Buffalo
The Buffalo Say Yes Tuition Scholarship guarantees eligible Buffalo Public School District students
enrolling in participating SUNY/CUNY colleges that they will receive a grant for any tuition balance after
state, federal and/or institutional scholarships and grants.
The Cleveland County Promise
The Cleveland County Promise provides all Cleveland County high school graduates with a scholarship
covering tuition and any mandatory fees, that can be used at any accredited two or four-year, public or
private college or university in the United States. The scholarship is based off the tuition and mandatory
fees of the most expensive public college/university in North Carolina.
Hazel Park Promise
The Hazel Park Promise Zone guarantees all resident graduates of Hazel Park Schools a tuition-free path
to an Associate’s degree. These funds can be used at any accredited trade school, community college,
college or university in the state of Michigan.
Lansing Promise
The Lansing Promise provides financial assistance to high school graduates within the Lansing School
District geographic boundaries. Eligible students—after applying for federal and state scholarships and
grants—will receive funding for tuition and mandatory fees at Lansing Community College to cover a
maximum of 60 credits (equivalent to an associate’s degree) or the financial equivalence of 60 credits at
the LCC tuition rate toward the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees at Michigan State University.
Detroit Scholarship Fund
In 2011, Governor Rick Snyder announced his intention to provide Detroit high school graduates with a
tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificate. Accordingly, the Detroit Regional
Chamber is administering the Detroit Scholarship Fund to provide Detroit-resident students graduating
in the spring of 2015 from a high school in the city of Detroit a tuition-free path to an associate degree
or technical certificate at any one of five participating community colleges.
Challenge Scholars
Union High School’s Class of 2020 will be able to earn a Challenge Scholars last-dollar scholarship. This
scholarship will cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies at a Michigan public college or university after
financial aid and other scholarships are received.
Saginaw Promise
The Saginaw Promise awards scholarships to fund a maximum of $2,727 per year for a two-year degree
and up to $8,000 per year of a four-year degree program at a public or private university, accredited
trade or vocational school in Michigan. The Saginaw Promise is a “last dollar” scholarship, used to cover
tuition and other mandatory fees not covered by federal, state, private, or other grants or scholarships.
Richmond Promise
In August 2014, city leaders announced the establishment of a $35 million 10 year program that will
guarantee that every Richmond public school student who graduates from high school will receive full
tuition to attend college. The Richmond Promise will be funded from grants from Chevron as part of an
agreement to upgrade an oil refinery in the city.
Tennessee Promise
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam (R) proposed and shepherded a “Tennessee Promise” into law in 2014.
Tennessee’s Promise uses proceeds from the lottery to provide residents with free tuition at community
colleges and colleges of applied technology. The inaugural class of Tennessee Promise students will
enroll in the Fall of 2015.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
Louisiana’s TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) offers scholarships to state residents who
attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are a part of the
Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology
Schools or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities. Under this program HS graduates with a 2.5+ GPA can earn a scholarship equal to tuition at
a public college or university.
New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship
The New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship encourages New Mexico high school graduates and
New Mexico General Education Diploma (GED) recipients to enroll full time and complete a 2 year
degree within 4 semesters or a 4 year degree within 8 semesters. The program pays 100% of tuition for
eight consecutive semesters of eligibility beginning with the second semester of college enrollment as
long as those students maintain a 2.5 GPA in their college studies. The scholarship may be used at 25
public colleges, junior colleges or universities in New Mexico.
Denver Scholarship Foundation
The Denver Scholarship Foundation awards need-based scholarships that can be as much as $17,000
over five years to Denver Public Schools graduates attending college or technical school in Colorado.