If you live or go to school in Michigan’s Muskegon area, you should know about the Promise Scholarship. It’s been funding life-changing opportunities for hundreds of high school students in the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) since 2015.
This generous scholarship can pay for two years of higher education in Muskegon for students graduating with a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher. Specifically, it can be used at Baker College of Muskegon or other qualifying Promise schools for one of the following:
- A certificate program
- A two-year associate degree
- The first two years of a bachelor’s degree (at Baker College of Muskegon only)
What Does the Promise Scholarship Pay For?
The Promise Scholarship will be applied toward two years of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time or part-time students.
Who Is the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship For?
This scholarship is for students who:
- Live in the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD)
- Attend one of the 16 participating schools
- Graduate from high school with a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher
Steps to Take
There is no application for the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship. Students who meet the three criteria above need only to:
- Apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the verification process as requested each year
- Enroll at Baker College of Muskegon or another qualifying Promise school
Qualifying students will be notified by letter by MAISD and asked to accept the award in writing each spring.
Eligible 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
Other Financial Aid Opportunities at Baker College
There are a number of other scholarships and grants available to Baker College students. One scholarship in particular, the Regents Scholarship, can help Promise Scholarship students to continue with their studies toward a four-year degree.
To learn more about financial aid options at Baker College, contact our advisors at onestop@baker.edu or (833) 691-7867.
Baker College of Muskegon Has a Lot to Offer
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 townhomes
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.
Using and Keeping Your Promise Scholarship
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.
Who Funds the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship?
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.
Rewarding Hard Work and Building Opportunity
As stated on the scholarship’s original grassroots GoFundMe page, “The Muskegon Area Promise is a unique commitment to the young people of our community—one that believes if students work hard, they will be able to earn at least a two-year college degree tuition free!”
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 GetEnrolled@Baker.edu or (855) 487-7888.
Bibliography
“$2.5M Needed to Sustain Muskegon Promise Scholarship.” Mlive, 25 Jan. 2019, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/01/25m-needed-to-sustain-muskegon-promise-scholarship.html.
“6 Things to Know about the Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship.” Mlive, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2016/09/6_things_to_know_about_the_mus.html.
“Another Big Donation Pushes Muskegon Promise Scholarship Fund over $1 Million.” Mlive, 16 Jan. 2016, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2016/01/another_big_donation_pushes_mu.html.
“First Muskegon Promise Scholarships to Be Awarded after Big Corporate Gifts.” Mlive, 23 Oct. 2015, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2015/10/first_muskegon_promise_scholar.html.
Muskegon Area Promise. https://www.muskegonisd.org/ctc-home/career-development/promise/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
“Muskegon Area Promise Ready to Go Countywide to 16 High Schools.” Mlive, 19 Sept. 2016, https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2016/09/muskegon_area_promise_ready_to.html.
Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship. https://www.facebook.com/muskegonareapromise/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.
“Muskegon Area Promise Scholarship, Organized by Megan Byard.” Gofundme.com, https://www.gofundme.com/f/promisescholarship. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.