FAQ
General
1. What benefits and programs does New Haven Promise offer?
Promise offers college access programs and early career exploration to public school students, including FAFSA workshops, community service opportunities, and career awareness events, etc. Learn more here.
Promise provides college scholarships, paid internships and entry-level job opportunities, and career development services to eligible college Scholars and Alumni. Learn more here and here.
2. Who should apply for New Haven Promise
New Haven students at New Haven Public Schools or approved charter schools should sign up with New Haven Promise (the Pledge Form) as early as 7th grade. See “Step One” on this page.
If you live in New Haven AND attend New Haven Public Schools or approved charter schools from the beginning of 9th grade through 12th grade graduation, you should apply during senior year by the December 23 deadline, regardless of your college plans. See “Step Two” on this page. There are benefits for everyone who earns New Haven Promise. Learn more here.
New Haven Promise application is not available to students who have already graduated from high school.
3. Promise makes college affordable, NOT FREE. What does that mean?
Additionally, we offer paid summer internship opportunities and encourage Scholars to use their earnings to further pay off their college balance, working toward graduating with little to no debt.
4. If I’m not eligible for Promise, are there any resources for me?
Yes. FAFSA Connecticut college access workshops are open to all Connecticut students.
The Understand College Financials and Other Financial Resources pages provide valuable tips and resources to help you manage your college expenses.
Become A Promise Scholar
5. What are the requirements to earn New Haven Promise?
To earn New Haven Promise, students must apply during the high school senior year between Oct 1 and Dec 23 at app.newhavenpromise.org.
To qualify, you must meet ALL residency, enrollment, GPA, attendance, and community service requirements. View requirement details here.
Passport to Promise scholarship and Pennington Fellowship have slightly different requirements (e.g., GPA, essay, etc.) See details here.
6. Where can I find organizations to do community service?
Students can find a list of pre-approved New Haven nonprofit organizations and community festivals here.
7. My high school GPA may not reach the Promise 3.0 requirement, should I apply?
Yes. Promise believes in second chances, which is why we created the Passport to Promise scholarship. This competitive scholarship is available to up to 20 students with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 who meet all other Promise requirements. Learn more here.
8. I’m not planning to attend a college in Connecticut, should I apply?
Yes. There are benefits for everyone who earns New Haven Promise. Scholars attending out-of-state colleges can participate in paid internship and career development programs. They can also activate the scholarship benefits if they transfer back to an in-state college within a year after high school graduation. Learn more here.
If you are interested in attending an HBCU, apply for the Pennington Fellowship through your Promise application.
9. What is the Pennington Fellowship?
Yale created the Pennington Fellowship to support New Haven public school students who choose to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The participating colleges are: Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T, and Spelman College.
It awards 10 to 12 Pennington Fellows from each high school graduating class, with each recipient receiving up to $20,000 annually.
New Haven Promise was selected to manage the Pennington Scholarship and organize the selection of the Pennington Scholars through a committee process. Learn more here.
10. Are Promise scholarships available to non-U.S. citizens?
11. I moved out of New Haven or transferred out of New Haven public schools, but I later returned. Am I eligible?
Students must concurrently be a resident of New Haven AND attend New Haven Public Schools or approved charter schools from the beginning of 9th grade through 12th grade graduation.
For example, if a student moves out in grade 7 and moves back to New Haven in grade 9, but does not re-enroll in a New Haven public school until grade 10, the student will not qualify for New Haven Promise.
12. Can I or my family move out of New Haven after I earn New Haven Promise?
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13. How much scholarship will I get?
The amount of New Haven Promise scholarship is based on three factors — college type, length of residency & enrollment, and the amount of federal Pell Grant a scholar receives. It is calculated based on a predetermined formula and is non-negotiable. Learn more here.
The Passport to Promise scholarship offers a flat amount of $1,000 for the freshman year.
The Pennington Fellowship provides an annual award of up to $20,000.
14. What is a university match offered by the Promise college partners?
The university match is a guaranteed institutional aid offered by Promise college partners. It is separate from your New Haven Promise Scholarship. View college partners and their matching amounts here.
The university match is an additional benefit that Promise negotiated for our Scholars. You must earn New Haven Promise and attend the partner college immediately after high school graduation. Some colleges also require FAFSA submission by February 15 to be eligible for the match.
The university match cannot be combined with other grants offered by the university. For example, if UConn offers you a $10,000 Presidential Scholarship and the university match at UConn is $5,000, you will only receive the higher of the two — in this case, the $10,000 Presidential Scholarship.
15. How many credits should I register for each semester?
We encourage students to complete 15 credit hours per semester in order to graduate within four years. Extending into a fifth year typically results in additional financial burdens to complete their degree.
16. Can I defer receiving my scholarship and use it later?
Yes. New Haven Promise Scholars can defer their scholarships for up to 2 semesters within the five years following high school graduation. Deferring your scholarship means putting it on hold and expecting to reactivate it in one or two semesters. This is common when you go out of state, take a gap, or have academic, financial or personal reasons. Fill out the deferment form here.
Note: Passport to Promise Scholars and Pennington Fellows are not allowed to defer their scholarships. They must enroll in college immediately after high school graduation.
17. Can I transfer and use my scholarship at another college?
Yes. New Haven Promise Scholars can transfer their scholarships between eligible Connecticut Colleges and Universities. You must submit the transfer form to notify New Haven Promise office once you are admitted to a new college.
Pennington Fellows cannot transfer their award to another HBCU.
18. How do I receive my scholarship payment?
Scholarships are disbursed directly to your college or university in October for fall semesters and in March for spring semesters. Your college or university posts the award to your account, which reduces your balance due.
Scholarship disbursement may be delayed if you have a pending requirement, like incomplete FAFSA, incomplete MOU (the scholarship rules and regulations document), incomplete Promise Improvement Plan (for those on scholarship warning), etc. See detailed disbursement timeline here.
19. Is my scholarship renewable and how does it work?
New Haven Promise Scholarship is renewable for up to 2 years (4 semesters) at CT State Community College and up to 4 years (8 semesters) at a CT four-year college. Passport to Promise is non-renewable after the freshman year but will be converted to regular New Haven Promise for qualified students. Pennington Fellowship is renewable for up to 4 years (8 semesters) at the HBCU you initially enrolled in.
Scholarship renewal is automatic as long as you maintain full-time enrollment (12 credit hours) and successful academic progress defined as a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA. See a full list of renewal requirements and timeline here.
20. Can I use my scholarship for graduate study?
No. The New Haven Promise and Pennington fellowship funding is only available for undergraduate study. However, we are offering graduate school benefits on this page for Promise alumni, including tuition discount, etc.
21. Should I live on or off campus?
Not living on campus means your university fee bill will be lower, making college more affordable by saving on housing and meal costs. However, it may come at the expense of fully experiencing college life, including access to on-campus resources, social activities, and the convenience of living near classes and peers.
22. Does Promise pay for studying abroad?
23. Who are eligible for Promise-brockered internships/jobs and career development programs?
Promise’s career programs are exclusive to Promise Scholars and Alumni who are in good standing. Learn more here. If you believe you are eligible but not receiving the career program information via email, contact New Haven Promise.