Who is eligible for the Detroit Promise?

Detroit Promise funding is non-competitive. Every student meeting the requirements and registering will receive funding if their college identifies an eligible funding gap.

  • All Detroit high schools are eligible (public, private, charter, parochial, etc.)  if the high school has a Detroit address.
  • Students who attended multiple schools are eligible if all of the schools were located in Detroit.

Class of 2025 – Eligibility Updates

Community College Funding

Interested students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Successfully complete and submit the 2025-26 FAFSA and all college financial aid requirements.
  2. Live in Detroit for junior and senior years of high school.
  3. Attend a high school in Detroit for your junior and senior years and graduate. You can complete these years at any combination of Detroit high schools.

*Please note that there is no GPA/Exam Score Required for Community College funding.

University Funding

Some of our university partners have made alterations to the GPA and ACT/SAT requirement for the Class of 2025. What this means is that if you meet all the requirements, you may now be eligible for our four-year funding!

Interested students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Successfully complete and submit the 2025-26 FAFSA and all college financial aid requirements.
  2. Live in Detroit for all four years of high school.
  3. Attend a high school in Detroit for all four years and graduate (this can be any combination of Detroit high schools for all four years.)

*Please note that the scholarship must be used immediately after graduating and cannot be deferred for a gap year if you plan to attend one of our partnering universities.

In addition, scholars must meet the requirements of the college they are applying to. See below:


If applying to:

    • Central Michigan University
    • College for Creative Studies
    • Eastern Michigan University
    • Ferris State University
    • Grand Valley State University
    • Lawrence Technological University
    • Michigan State University
    • Michigan Technical University
    • Northern Michigan University
    • Oakland University
    • Saginaw Valley State University
    • Siena Heights University
    • University of Detroit - Mercy
    • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan - Dearborn
    • University of Michigan - Flint
    • The University of Olivet
    • Wayne State University
    • Western Michigan University

 

Exam Score Requirement: Test Optional
GPA Requirement: Have a 3.0 cumulative by March 1, 2025.


If applying to:

    • Albion College (2.7 GPA)
    • Alma College (2.75 GPA)
    • Cleary University (2.0 GPA)
    • Madonna University (2.8 GPA)
    • Rochester University (2.7 GPA)

 

Exam Score Requirement: Test Optional
GPA Requirement: Required GPA in parentheses.


*Test Optional means that students can apply with or without a test score. If you are admitted and meet all other requirements, you will be eligible for Detroit Promise funding.

Walsh College only accepts transfer students. Students must start at a partnering Detroit Promise Community College to be eligible to transfer to Walsh College.

  • Attend any high school in the City of Detroit for all four years of high school and graduate from a Detroit high school in the spring of this school year. This includes schools operated by the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), as well as self-governing, charter, private, alternative, home, and parochial schools. 
  • Be a Detroit resident for all four years of high school.
  • Have at least a 3.0 overall GPA by February 15 of this school year and through high school graduation.
  • Have at least a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT score by April 30 of this school year. Please note scores will only be accepted from exams that release scores to all test-takers on or before April 30. An exam with a score release date range that includes May 1 or later will not be accepted.
  • Successfully complete and submit the FAFSA by the federal deadline (June 30). 
  • Check TIP eligibility with the State of Michigan Treasury by August 31.
  • Register for the Detroit Promise by December 15, this school year.
  • Be admitted to a participating institution.
  • Sign the Detroit Promise Authorization to Release (AtR) by May 1 of this school year.
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Thank You Partners and Supporters