Detroit Promise Verification
What is Verification?
Verification is the official process required to secure the Detroit Promise Scholarship. Verification is only open for current high school seniors who live in Detroit and attend a Detroit high school, as well as those interested in Path Back. For full details, visit our Eligibility Page.
The deadline to complete verification is May 1, 2025.
How to Complete Verification
All applicants must complete all steps below to be verified for the Detroit Promise Scholarship.
- Complete a Detroit Promise Application
- To begin the Verification process, a Detroit Promise application must be completed. Applicants interested in the Path Back program can complete an application here.
- Once an application is completed, a Detroit Promise account will be created. Applicants can log in to complete the remaining steps below.
- Sign the Scholarship Acceptance Letter (SAL)
- Log in to the Detroit Promise account and sign the SAL by clicking the blue link titled "Go to DocuSign to Sign the SAL" on the Files Page.
- Applicants can view their Progress Bar, which shows pending and completed steps.
- Upload Required Documents
- Applicants interested in attending a university must upload both a high school transcript and a college acceptance letter.
- Applicants interested in community college are required to upload a high school transcript only.
- Undergo Review by the Detroit Promise
- After completing steps 1-3, verification documents will be reviewed by the Detroit Promise team. All applicants will receive a decision by email.
- If denied, applicants will be notified of their denial reason and, if applicable, can resubmit the required documents by May 1, 2025.
- Undergo Review by the Final Decision University/Community College
- The college selected by the applicant will conduct a final review based on the eligibility requirements and completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- If denied by the college, please contact the college's financial aid office for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Current high school seniors who live in the city of Detroit and attend a Detroit high school, as well as Path Back applicants, can complete the Verification process. The Path Back opportunity is for applicants interested in attending community college and who have completed high school between 2013 and 2023.
After creating a Detroit Promise account, a progress bar will appear on your profile to help you track your progress within the verification process. You can log in at any time to monitor your status. Please see the example below.
To sign your Scholarship Acceptance Letter (SAL), log in to your Detroit Promise account and click the blue link on the Files Page titled "Go to DocuSign to Sign the SAL," as outlined in Step 2.
When signing the SAL, applicants must use the same email address they used when creating their Detroit Promise account.
High school senior applicants interested in attending our partnering universities must meet the specific GPA requirements for each institution by March 3, 2025, to be verified. You can find a full list of GPA requirements on our website here.
Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement will be notified of the denial reason via email.
High school senior applicants interested in attending our partnering community colleges, as well as Path Back applicants, do not have a GPA requirement to be verified.
Applicants may only upload one acceptance letter. This letter should be for your final decision. Upload the acceptance letter to the 'Files' section of your Detroit Promise account. Detroit Promise accepts various formats, including official acceptance letters, acceptance emails, screen captures, and on-site visit letters. The document must include the college’s official letterhead and your full name.
Applicants must upload their college acceptance letter by May 1, 2025. Meanwhile, it is recommended that they sign their SAL and upload their transcript to stay on track. Once the college acceptance letter is received, it can be uploaded immediately.
We encourage applicants interested in our limited university partners to upload their documents as soon as possible to avoid being placed on the waitlist.
If an applicant receives a denial email, please review the message carefully, as it will clearly outline the reason for the denial.
If asked to re-upload documents, please log back into your account to upload the required files by May 1, 2025.
Applicants who are denied because of a non-Detroit address can submit an Appeal Form by May 1, 2025.
For further concerns, please email us at info@detroitpromise.com
Applicants who receive a denial from a limited university partner are automatically placed on the waitlist. At this point, they may choose to select a different final decision school. If they decide to do so, they must email info@detroitpromise.com to submit a new college acceptance letter.
If a spot becomes available, applicants will be notified by email and given the option to revert to their original final decision school or remain with their current selection.
Detroit Promise has eight limited partners with a set capacity on the number of Detroit Promise applicants they accept each year, as listed below.
- Central Michigan University - 20 students
- College for Creative Studies - 10 students
- Lawrence Technological University - 1 student
- Michigan State University - 100 students
- Rochester Christian University - 4 students
- Saginaw Valley State University - 4 students
- University of Detroit Mercy - 10 students
- University of Michigan-Flint - 3 students
Yes. As outlined in Step 5 of the Verification process, the applicant's selected final decision college will review the application and confirm the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants will not be considered verified through the Detroit Promise and cannot receive the scholarship until the FAFSA is completed.
Applicants can change their final decision school by emailing a new admission letter to info@detroitpromise.com by May 1, 2025.
