The Pittsburgh Promise is committed to raising the required resources to fund students through the high school graduating class of 2028.

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How much scholarship money will I receive?

For the Classes of 2018 through 2028: Every student who starts on day one of 9th grade and meets eligibility criteria will be eligible for up to $5,000 per year ($20,000 maximum) to be used within five years of post-secondary education.

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What does The Promise pay for?

The Pittsburgh Promise scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship, meaning The Promise pays for eligible expenses after all other grants and scholarships, such as Pell, PHEAA, FSEOG, and institutional grants have been deducted. Loans and work-study are not included in the calculation.

The Promise pays the remaining balance up to the student’s maximum award for each of four years of education.

Expenses eligible for Promise scholarship funds are tuition, fees, room, board, and books.

Colleges and schools invoice The Pittsburgh Promise for the scholarship funds each term or semester. Checks are sent directly to the schools.

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Where can I use The Promise scholarship?

Students may attend any accredited college, university, trade, or technical school in Pennsylvania. Programs must be eligible for the federal Pell grant. Promise funds are for post-secondary only, and cannot be used for graduate-level courses.

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• Graduate from high school in, or before, 2028 (the class of 2028 will be the final class to receive Promise scholarships),
• Be residents of the City of Pittsburgh, continuously, since 9th grade,
• Graduate from a PPS high school with a minimum cumulative, unweighted grade point average of 2.50 and an attendance record of 90% or above**, and
• Be enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools*, or one of its charters, continuously, since 9th grade.

* Students who live in Wilkinsburg, graduate from Pittsburgh Public Schools, and meet all other requirements are eligible to receive Promise scholarships beginning with the graduating class of 2017.

**Students from the graduating class of 2021 will receive a one-time easement of GPA and attendance requirements.

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