July 24, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Nearly 950 students have been invited to attend Grand Rapids Community College during the 2023-2024 academic year with financial support from the Grand Rapids Promise Zone.
The Promise Zone scholarship removes cost as a barrier to a quality college education for eligible high school graduates. In past years, the number of eligible students has ranged from 870 to 960.
“The Grand Rapids Promise Zone is about access and opportunity, and an indication of this community’s commitment to helping everyone get the education they need to be successful,” said Ashlee Mishler, Promise Zone director. “This is an opportunity for students to start their educational journey at GRCC, earning credits or career skill certificates -- for free -- close to home.”
The Promise Zone scholarship is available for students who live within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area and graduate from one of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city limits. The program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books and required course materials for GRCC’s associate degree and job training and certification programs.
The Promise Zone scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship. Students must complete the FAFSA -- Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- to determine available need-based aid. Once the total need-based aid has been determined, the scholarship covers the remaining costs.
Students are eligible to receive the full Grand Rapids Promise Zone Scholarship (60 credit hours) if:
- They attend an eligible Grand Rapids high school continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before;
- They live within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area continuously since the beginning of 10th grade or before; and
- They graduate from any of the 25 public, public charter, or private high schools located within the city.
Students who have been enrolled at an eligible high school and who have resided within the Grand Rapids Public Schools service area continuously since the start of 11th grade are eligible for a partial scholarship, covering up to 30 credit hours at GRCC.
Eligible students have five years to access these funds from the time they graduate high school. Once enrolled, they must take at least six credits in the fall and winter semesters. Students who opt to attend a different college or university can still use the Promise Zone scholarship as a GRCC guest student during the summer semesters.
The scholarships were created in 2020 by the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, a group of city and community leaders and educators.
Additional information is available at grpromisezone.com, through email at promisezone@grcc.edu and by calling (616) 234-4321.
