Starting January 2026, students who’ve obtained an associate degree at Grand Rapids Community College through the Promise Zone scholarship will be eligible to continue their studies at Grand Valley State University and Ferris State University.
The Promise Zone scholarship is a location-based award that offers students the chance to attend GRCC for free. In effect since 2020, the Promise Zone has supported over 2,000 GRCC students. The scholarship’s expansion details that up to $7,000 per year will be awarded to students looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree. GVSU and FSU will also offer an additional $7,000 per year if there is a gap in tuition and fees.
The scholarship covers tuition, textbooks, school supplies and mandatory fees necessary to pursue higher education. Eligible students must have attempted 72 credit hours at GRCC, and may take university courses during winter, fall or summer semesters. Prospective applicants must use federal and state grants first, maintain required residency and redeem the reward within five years of graduating from high school. Statewide, there are 13 similar scholarships to the Promise Zone.
“We are incredibly grateful to our four-year partners for helping make this next step possible for our students,” said Promise Zone Director Ashlee Mishler.
FSU President Bill Pink said in a statement the scholarship creates an “incredible opportunity for students who have earned their associate degree at GRCC to take the next step toward a bachelor’s degree.”
Just this fall, nearly 800 students enrolled in higher education through the Promise Zone scholarship, about five times as many students as the first launch in 2020. In a Sept. 24 appearance on WOODTV, GVSU President Philomena Mantella and Mishler iterated how the opportunity can benefit the entire community.
“Promise Zone opportunities (have) already provided students with access to higher education, and this next step builds on that foundation by including the path to a bachelor’s degree for students who may have never imagined it possible,” Mishler said. “Beyond individual students, this investment will uplift families and strengthen our community for generations to come.”
Mantella added the scholarship is creating a larger talent pipeline for employers that need students who want to stay and work in West Michigan.
Steven Lawrence, a graduate assistant in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at GVSU, explained the office is enthusiastic to support current and incoming students with financial resources.
“Feel free to always ask,” Lawrence said. “There’s FAFSA workshops and things like that. MoneySmart Lakers also helps students with budgeting and exit counseling.”
Students who want to learn if they are eligible for the Promise Zone can visit the program’s website or Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at GVSU.
