Nevada Promise
Are you a graduating high school student interested in attending college free of tuition and class fees? The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that was established by the Nevada State Legislature in 2017. The scholarship incorporates service learning and mentorship with academics, with the goal of increasing enrollment in higher education and improving overall student achievement, by eliminating financial barriers and allowing students to place greater emphasis on their education.
What is the Nevada Promise Scholarship?
It provides coverage of tuition and other mandatory fees not met by federal or state aid for up to three years. There are no income or high school GPA requirements, and it is open to all Nevada high school students graduating between August 1 and June 15 who begin classes at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in the fall immediately following graduation.
Who qualifies?
First year recipients must be graduating high school students, and cannot have earned a prior associate or bachelors degree. Students must enroll in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. The deadline to apply for the Nevada Promise Scholarship is October 31st of a students final (typically senior) year of high school.
To qualify for funding, applicants must be classified as a Nevada resident for tuition purposes and must have earned a high school diploma from a private or public high school located in this state, or a public high school that is located in a county that borders this state and accepts pupils who are residents of this state. Students may also qualify if they earn their general equivalency diploma (GED or HSE) prior to the age of 20.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ is committed to helping applicants fulfill the requirements to maintain eligibility. Please refer to the Steps to Earn section for eligibility deadlines and watch for e-mail communication regarding steps you need to take to stay on track.
- As a last-dollar scholarship, the Nevada Promise Scholarship covers the cost of the registration fees (tuition is not charged to residents of Nevada) not covered by other gift aid.
- Gift aid is defined as a federal Pell Grant, a federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), a Silver State Opportunity Grant (SSOG), or a Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS).
- The Nevada Promise Scholarship can provide for up to three years of coverage of registration fees and other mandatory fees to eligible students not covered by other gift aid, subject to appropriation.
- If there are not sufficient funds available for all eligible scholarship applicants, students will be awarded in order of the date the application was received.
Senate Bill 391
Nevada Promise Scholarship is a grant provided by Nevada Senate Bill 391. Read the
full text .
(Revised Nevada Senate Bill 350. Read the full text )
Nevada Promise Awarding Examples
Nevada Promise Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship that covers the registration and technology fees, not covered by other gift aid.
Gift aid is defined as a:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Silver State Opportunity Grant (SSOG)
- Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS)
Gift aid IS NOT:
- Outside scholarships
- Foundation Scholarships
- Institutional grant awards
Gift aid will always be applied to registration and class fees, before a Nevada Promise Scholarship is award. The following are examples:
Example 1
$1,250 Registration fees & mandatory fees per semester
$480 Millennium Scholarship per semester
$770 Balance left for the semester
Nevada Promise will pay $770 to cover last dollar.
Example 2
$1,250 Registration fees & mandatory fees per semester
$1,880 Pell Grant per semester
$630 Extra financial aid that can be used for books and supplies
Nevada Promise will pay $0 since the registration and fees are already covered.
To earn the Nevada Promise Scholarship, applicants must complete the following steps during their senior year of high school:
Required Steps to Earn*
- Apply for the NV Promise Scholarship
Complete Nevada Promise Scholarship Application no later than 11:59 p.m. October 31st.
For questions regarding admission, please contact Admissions & Records.- Complete a Training Session
Attend Â鶹ÊÓƵs Nevada Promise Senior Workday or complete a Promise training offered by the college no later than March 1st. - Apply for FAFSA
Complete the no later than April 1st. - Meet with your Mentor
Meet with your assigned mentor at least once no later than July 1st. - Meet Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
Confirm with the Financial Aid office that you have met all eligibility requirements to receive the scholarship. You can also check your Financial Aid To-Do list by logging into - Community Service Requirements
Complete and report eligible community service no later than May 1st. - Submit a Placement Option
Students will meet with an academic advisor to ensure proper placement into English and Math courses based on review of placement options and goals. If you have ACT/SAT or AP scores, please submit those for evaluation. - Attend An Orientation
Attend Â鶹ÊÓƵs Senior Workday, participate in an orientation through Â鶹ÊÓƵs Bridge to Success program, or sign up for and attend a Wildcat Welcome Orientation at Western Nevada College. - Register for Classes
Register for at least 12 credits each semester (Fall and Spring). For assistance with registering for classes, please contact the Advising Office. - Go to college!
*Please note that each step is mandatory and failure to complete all requirements prior to each deadline will result in loss of eligibility for the Nevada Promise Scholarship.
Additional Steps for Success
It is Highly Recommended that Nevada Promise Applicants:
- Participate in Bridge to Success
Sign up for and participate in Â鶹ÊÓƵs Bridge to Success program. Students who select Â鶹ÊÓƵ on their Promise application are automatically included in the Bridge to Success Program. - Apply for Additional Funding
Apply for a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation Scholarship, which can help with the cost of books, gas, and other items not covered by the Nevada Promise Scholarship, no later than April 1st.
To remain eligible for the Nevada Promise Scholarship, students must complete the following steps:
Required Steps to Earn*
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- Complete Community Service
Returning Promise students must complete 8 hours of community service each semester. Eight hours must be completed before January 1st to receive funding for the spring semester, and an additional 8 hours of community service must be completed before May 1st to receive funding for the following fall semester. - Meet with your Mentor
Returning Promise students must meet with their assigned mentor once each semester. The fall mentor meeting must take place by January 1st, while the spring mentor meeting must be completed by July 1st. - Apply for FAFSA
Complete the no later than April 1st. - Meet Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
Confirm with the Financial Aid office that you have met all eligibility requirements to receive the scholarship. You can also check your Financial Aid To-Do list by logging into - Register for Classes
Register forat least 12 creditseach semester (Fall and Spring). For assistance with registering for classes, please contact the Advising Office.
- Complete Community Service
*Please note that each step is mandatory and failure to complete all requirements prior to each deadline will result in loss of eligibility for the Nevada Promise Scholarship.
It is highly recommended that Nevada Promise students Apply for Additional Funding through the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation. To apply for aÂ鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation Scholarship, which can help with the cost of books, gas, and other items not covered by the Nevada Promise Scholarship, students should apply no later than April 1st.
Community service is time contributed to a nonprofit or public service organization. The community should be benefiting from the work you do! Community service must be performed immediately preceding the academic year for which you wish to receive a Nevada Promise Scholarship.
Community service performed to satisfy the requirements for participation in the Nevada Promise Scholarship Program must not:
- Result in compensation, payment or remuneration of any kind for the student.
- Directly benefit a member of the family of the applicant or student, as applicable.
- Include paid or unpaid internships.
- Include donation of money or items as community service.
- Include participation in fund-raising events, but may include volunteering to assist in the administration of the event. For example, participating as a "walker" in a "cancer walk" to raise money for cancer research does not qualify as community service; but volunteering to assist with registration, set-up or similar activities at the event may qualify as community service.
Community service may be performed with or under the direction of a faith-based organization, but must not include religious proselytizing or persuasion.
List of Community Service Opportunities
OPPORTUNITIES
Register to Become a Nevada Promise Mentor!
The Nevada Promise Program requires student to complete a number of requirements prior to becoming eligible for the scholarship. One of these requirements is that they meet with a mentor who is willing to help guide them through the transition from high school to college, and beyond! Students who have a mentor are more likely to attend college, have higher retention rates, better grades, and clearer professional goals than their peers. Mentoring has also been shown to positively impact the community as a whole!
Please consider dedicating a few hours of your time to support Nevada Promise applicants in your community.
Eligibility
- Willingness to partner with a student to help them achieve educational and career goals
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Pass a Criminal Background Check
- Attend a Mentor Training
Mentors cannot be compensated for their mentoring services, nor can they be assigned a mentee whom they employ or who is closely related to them (within the third degree).
Next Steps
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- Fill out the online .
- Complete the .
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Mentorship FAQs
My child is applying for the Nevada Promise Scholarshipcan I mentor them?
No. The legislation dictates that a mentor may not be closely related (within three degrees) of their mentees.
I noticed that the mentor commitment spans two academic years. Im not sure I can commit for that longwhat should I do?
While we would love for Nevada Promise students to continue with their same mentor, we understand that this is not always possible! If for any reason you are unable to continue past the first academic year, we will reassign your mentees when they reapply for the scholarship.
How many students should I mentor? 10 seems like a lot.
The number of students you take on is completely up to you. We definitely do not want you to feel overwhelmed! When mentors take advantage of Senior Work Day at Western Nevada College, it gives them the opportunity to meet with all of their mentees on the same day.
Please note that not all mentees will fulfil the requirements for the scholarship, and even some who do may not reapply for the following year, further reducing mentors time commitment.
1ST YEAR APPLICANTS
Date | Deadline |
---|---|
October 31st | Deadline to Apply for Nevada Promise Scholarship |
March 1st | Complete Nevada Promise Training |
April 1st |
Submit FAFSA online at |
May 1st | Complete and Submit 8 hours of Community Service |
July 1st |
|
Contact Us
Academic Advising and Access
Bristlecone Building, Room 103
2201 West College Parkway, Carson City, NV 89703
counseling@wnc.edu
775-445-3267