Description
The Promise Scholarship is designed to help underserved young achievers from Maine overcome financial, academic, social, and cultural barriers, remain in school, and graduate in four years with minimal debt — prepared to make their own contributions to Maine’s social and economic well-being.
The Promise Scholarship supports up to 100 scholars every year, approximately 25 in each class, with multi-year, equitable scholarship awards that aims to meet 100% of a scholar’s demonstrated need in covering the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and meal expenses. Our program promotes access and equity in earning a college degree, therefore awards vary based upon a student’s eligibility for other federal, state, and institutional aid to ensure college remains affordable for all.
The application for the scholarship will open on December 1st with applications due by March 15th.
Nominate a student: partnering youth-serving organizations and school counselors may nominate prospective candidates by completing this short nomination form.
Letters of Recommendations: if you are supporting a student who has applied for the Promise Scholarship, please provide your responses to the prompts or upload your letter of recommendation to this form by March 15.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Promise Scholarship applicants should:
- be an admitted, incoming first-year or transfer undergraduate to USM
- be a full-time resident of Maine
- demonstrate financial need
- plan to enroll as a full-time student
- demonstrate a commitment to community service and civic engagement (preferred)
- be a first-generation college student (preferred)
- be referred from a partnering youth-serving organization (preferred)
Award Amount
Deadline
How to Apply
- Submit your Promise Scholarship application
- Submit your admissions application to the University of Southern Maine
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, if eligible
- Submit at least one (1), maximum of two (2) letters of recommendation; preferably from youth-serving organization staff
How to Renew
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Maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA; First-year, first-time Promise Scholars may earn a 2.0 GPA during their first year and still maintain eligibility for the Promise Scholarship. Promise Scholars would be required to raise their cumulative GPA to a 2.5 in subsequent years.
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Attend the Promise Scholarship Immersion Week Experience that occurs the week prior to fall semester (first-year only)
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Meet with an assigned Promise Peer Leader each month throughout your first year (a minimum of six meetings)
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Attend a minimum of two Promise Scholarship events or workshops each semester
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Meet with the Promise Scholarship staff each semester during your sophomore, junior, and senior year