Do You Qualify For Free College? A College Promise Tool Can Help

With free college going nowhere at the national level (for now at least), state and local promise programs— another name for free college— are where there is the greatest potential for continued growth in efforts to make college more affordable for students.

With so many promise programs now up and running, it can be tricky for students to figure out what they are eligible for. A new tool from College Promise aims to make it easier for students to determine if they qualify for one of the more than 350 free college programs in the country.

How does this tool help students?

The MyPromise tool will make it easier for prospective students to figure out what free college programs are available near them. By smoothing the search process, the hope is that more students will be able to take advantage of accessible and affordable higher education.

In addition to a searchable database of promise programs and an interactive map, MyPromise provides information on scholarships, college entrance requirements, and wrap-around supports available to help students succeed once they are enrolled in college.

The tool will allow students to compare different promise programs side-by-side. This should help students determine which programs will provide them with the best deal and the most support.

Who is College Promise?

College Promise is a national nonprofit organization focused on promoting the growth of free college programs, otherwise known as promise programs.

“Students across the country benefit each and every day from Promise programs that not only lower the financial cost of postsecondary education but also provide wrap-around supports such as childcare, transportation, and/or mentors that enable them to thrive in college, “ said Martha Kanter, CEO of College Promise in a press release.

What are promise programs?

Promise programs are one approach to reducing the price of college to help alleviate the burden that ever-increasing prices have placed on students and their families. The more than 350 promise programs around the country range from state-level programs like New Mexico’s excellent program to local place-based programs like Kalamazoo promise.

Promise programs vary significantly in design and eligibility criteria. The New Mexico and Kalamazoo programs are what are known as first-dollar. Students who receive support to pay their tuition and fees can stack any other financial aid, such as federal Pell grants, on top of promise funds. First dollar programs ensure that students can use financial aid that exceeds their tuition and fees to pay for books, housing, and other living expenses. This is in contrast to last dollar programs, like New York’s Excelsior scholarship, that only help students if their other financial aid fails to cover their tuition and fees.

Research has shown that the simplicity of the message that comes from free college programs can encourage students to enroll in higher education. By providing a new tool to help students discover the free college programs near to them, there will hopefully be a positive effect for students who might not have considered a college education possible.

Kanter said, “This project builds on our steadfast commitment to increasing equitable access to a high-quality postsecondary education for every American.”

Every day students strive to get into college, only to find out that the price will be more than they can afford. Hopefully, MyPromise will reduce the number of students disappointed by the high price of college.