Promise College News

30% of students at every college are selected for FAFSA verification. This does not mean you did something wrong on your FAFSA. This helps prevent fraud and identity theft. You will be notified by your college through your college student portal or your college email. (Maybe both). Please check them regularly.

If you are selected and don't complete verification, your FAFSA is not complete. If your FAFSA is not complete, you cannot use the Promise, federal Pell grants, or money from the State of Michigan.

If you are waitlisted for a class, check your college email and student portal daily. If you get a spot, you have a limited amount of time to accept it and register before that spot goes to the next person on the list.

TLDR: It takes 2 months to get all students awarded. Be patient, but if you don't see your Promise scholarship in August, contact me.

Here is a timeline of what is happening behind the scenes:

1. 4th week of June: I screen all 1200 high school graduates to be sure they earned their diploma.
2. 1st week of July: notify students of Promise eligibility. If you already accepted, you'll get an email. (Check your spam folder if you don't see it.) If you haven't accepted, you'll get a letter to your house (we use your PowerSchool address). I also put together lists of students who have accepted the Promise for each college and send it to the college. (If you didn't accept, you aren't on the list.)
3. 2nd-4th week of July: College partners will award Promise scholarships and stipends to students who accepted the Promise. This might be done one at a time, so please be patient. They have to verify that your FAFSA is complete and that all financial aid paperwork is in. (Did you check your FA portal?)
4. 2nd week of August: If you don't see your Promise scholarship and stipend, please contact your financial aid office and me (lpulsipher@muskegonisd.org).

TLDR: Look to see if your Promise scholarship is in your financial aid portal. Check with financial aid if you aren't sure what is and isn't covered.

If you don't see your Promise scholarship:

1. Make sure your college received your FAFSA.
2. Make sure you completed all other financial aid steps (look for FAFSA verification status.)
3. Contact your college's financial aid office and let them know you are Promise eligible if you don't see it listed. They can tell you if anything is missing.
4. Contact me and let me know that it isn't listed. I can make sure you are on the list.

If you do see your Promise scholarship:

1. Don't panic.
2. Your Promise scholarship will be applied after classes start. This allows students time to add and drop classes during the add/drop period.
3. You will not be dropped from classes.
4. Follow up with me if your Promise scholarship isn't for the amount you expected.

TLDR: Call, email, or walk in to your college's financial aid department and ask first. Make sure they know you are a Muskegon Area Promise student.

Most of the time, these emails are automatic for all students that show a balance due, even if that balance is covered by a scholarship or grant. Most Promise scholars don't need a payment plan. But there have been a few times that students use it.

1. If you have gone above the Promise caps in place for your college, and all other financial aid has been used, a payment plan is an option.
2. If you are a prorated Promise scholar (attended at least 1 year outside of the Muskegon Area schools), and all other financial aid has been used, a payment plan is an option.
3. If you didn't fill out your Promise acceptance before June 30, and it is still being processed, and all other financial aid has been used, a payment plan is an option.
4. You lost your Promise eligibility (you didn't meet SAP at your college), and all other financial aid has been used, a payment plan is an option.

In case you missed it, the Muskegon Area Promise no longer has a minimum GPA requirement. To qualify, students must:

1. Live in a Muskegon Area ISD school district.
2. Graduated with a high school diploma from one of our districts (public, private, charter, academy, and homeschool students may qualify).
3. Apply for financial aid (do the FAFSA).
4. Enroll in college/career training locally

This change takes effect fall 2026.

If you are planning to attend Baker College, we have great news. Starting fall 2026, students can use their Muskegon Area Promise at any Baker campus. The Muskegon Area Promise Board has also approved an increase to the Baker College award.

• Full time (12 credits or more per semester) students will now have up to $10,000/academic year for tuition and mandatory fees. (All other scholarships and grants come first.)
• Students who attend less than full time (1-11 credits per semester) will receive up to $5,000/academic year for tuition and mandatory fees.
• All students will receive a $500 Promise stipend in their college account each term that they are taking classes with one of our partners. The stipend total for the academic year cannot exceed $1500.

The Financial Aid department will have the most up-to-date information about what money is coming in from other places to help pay for college (like TIP, Promise, or the Michigan Achievement Award). If you think you are missing a scholarship or grant, check with Financial Aid.

I'm available to work with any potential Promise student. You can schedule to meet online or in person at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center if you need help.