Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship
Get Funding Toward Your Degree
If you live or attend school in the Muskegon area, you could be eligible for the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship. Recipients can use the funds at Baker College of Muskegon for one of the following:
- A certificate program
- Up to 72 credit hours (the equivalency of a two-year associate degree)
- The first two years of a bachelor’s degree
The Promise Scholarship will be applied toward two years of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time or part-time students.
Eligibility
Baker College is an Eligible Institution participating with the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship program. For program eligibility details, please visit the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) website.
Scholarship Amount
Eligible students will receive a Promise Scholarship for any qualified educational expense as identified by the Promise Zone Act, up to the cost of obtaining an associate’s degree or its equivalent at the prevailing rate at an Eligible Institution. Each Eligible Institution’s varied cost of attendance will be covered by the Promise Scholarship. Note: Any MAISD students enrolled in college under dual enrollment contracts are not eligible for Promise Scholarships.
Promise Scholarships will be for an amount up to the cost of attendance for full time enrollment over three terms (Fall, Spring and Summer) per year. Subject to that maximum, a student’s Promise Scholarship amount will be the balance remaining for the qualified educational expenses after the student has applied for and accepted all federal, state, and institutional grants for a given year.
The Promise Scholarship will pay up to a maximum of 72 credits for degree-seeking students.
Deadline
There is no application, nor deadline. New graduates are notified of their eligibility via a letter sent home using the US Postal Service and asked to accept the award in writing (electronically) each spring.
Other Scholarship Requirements
- Students will have a maximum of five (5) years after high school graduation to use their Promise Scholarship award.
- The Muskegon Area Promise is a last dollar award. The scholarship amount is calculated based on allowable charges. If the student is eligible for financial aid, all other aid must be used first (Federal, State and Institutional Aid included).
- Students must successfully complete their coursework and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at Baker College to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.
Participating Schools
- Calvary Christian Schools
- Fruitport Community Schools
- Holton Public Schools
- Mona Shores Public Schools
- Montague Area Public Schools
- Muskegon Catholic Schools
- Muskegon Covenant Academy
- Muskegon Public Schools
- Muskegon Heights Public School Academy
- North Muskegon Public Schools
- Oakridge Public Schools
- Orchard View Schools
- Ravenna Public Schools
- Reeths-Puffer Schools
- Western Michigan Christian
- Whitehall District Schools
A Variety of Programs, Close to Home
Attending Baker College of Muskegon not only allows Muskegon-area students to remain close to their families and community, but it offers a wide range of programs and degrees.
The Muskegon campus features:
- Modern labs for occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, veterinary technology, radiologic tech, and more
- A student center, a gym, and a fitness center
- An Academic Resource Center and study rooms
- Student Apartments/Residence Halls
Baker College also offers culinary training in Muskegon through the Culinary Institute of Michigan. As with all of our areas of study, classes are taught by experienced teachers who are up to date on their industries’ latest developments.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship, please contact:
Sue Kelly
Senior Admissions Advisor
(231) 247-0780
[email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Students are granted up to four years after high school graduation to use their Promise Scholarship award.
If you use the scholarship to attend Baker College, you need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This primarily means achieving at least a cumulative 2.00 GPA and completing a minimum of 67% of your cumulative credit hours attempted by the end of each semester.
There are a number of other scholarships and grants available to Baker College students.
To learn more about financial aid options at Baker College, contact our advisors at [email protected] or (833) 691-7867.
Citizens and businesses of Muskegon have made the Promise Scholarship possible. The original group of contributors donated over $1 million to get it started. The four founding funders were Hines Corporation, Nichols, Adac Automotive, and the Alcoa Foundation, pledging $100,000 each. Many of the original benefactors committed to continue giving in subsequent years.
By law, the program needed to be privately funded for its first two years, after which a tax capture could be implemented. The MAISD predicts that by 2025, the scholarship program will be fully funded by taxes, so long as property values continue to climb.
If you would like to donate to the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship, you can do so through the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
Visit the official scholarship website.
Next Steps
There is no application for the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship. Students who meet the criteria above need only to:
1. Apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the verification process as requested each year
2. Enroll at Baker College of Muskegon
Qualifying students will be notified by letter by MAISD and asked to accept the award in writing each spring.
To learn more about qualifying for the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship and using it to pay for your Baker College education, please contact our admissions team at [email protected] or (855) 487-7888.