Big News For Grand Rapids Students Heading To College

Something very exciting was just announced this week for a Grand Rapids student wanting to graduate from college. You can get tuition, fees, or on-campus housing paid for! With the high, almost unaffordable cost of higher education, this is fantastic.

HERE IS THE DEAL!

In their news release, the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University formed a new partnership that will provide funding for Promise Zone students who graduate with an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College to complete a bachelor’s degree from either university.

That is exciting!

This will all begin next year starting January 2026, where Promise Zone students become eligible for up to $7,000 per academic year at either Ferris State or Grand Valley after earning an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College.

It get's better as each four-year institution will provide up to an additional $7,000 per academic year if there is a gap in tuition and fees.

There are a few hoops that a student must jump through to qualify for the Promise Zone Authority money, but to get an amazing amount of aid to achieve a Bachelors Degree, it is a small amount of effort to go through.

The Promise Zone Authority says:

"students must first use all available state and federal need-based grants by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), excluding student loans and work-study funding, as well as any merit-based aid from the four-year partner. Any Promise Zone funding applied to remaining cost of tuition, fees, or on-campus housing expenses will be paid directly to the four-year partner institution and will not be refundable to the student."

Students will be eligible as long as they use their scholarship within five years of high school graduation, upon earning an associate degree from GRCC.

 👇 BELOW: MICHIGAN COLLEGES WITH FREE TUITION 👇

HOW DO YOU QUALIFY?

To qualify for the Promise Zone scholarship, students must live in the city of Grand Rapids and graduate from one of the 25 eligible high schools in the city with continuous residency and high school attendance since the start of 11th grade.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU ARE ELIBIBLE!