The Harper Promise Scholarship

Progress Report: Harper College Promise Scholarship Program (CGI America 2016) - Thumbnail

Harper Promise Scholarship Program: Family and Student Edition- Thumbnail

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Two years of college. Tuition earned.

The Promise Scholarship is offered to every eligible incoming public high school student in Harper's district (High School Districts 211, 214 and 220).

Students, you can earn up to two years of in-district tuition at Harper College if you

maintain solid grades and graduate college ready
have good attendance
don’t repeat classes
graduate on time
provide service to your community

Here's how it works.

Sign up through your high school by December 15 of your freshman year (9th grade). Your high school’s Student Services department has specific details about how to sign up. This is often taken care of during High School Registration.

You'll start the program in the second semester of your freshman year. While in high school, your high school will track all of your criteria. To find out more about Promise specific to your high school, please visit your district's site:

District 211
District 214
District 220

District 155 - Please connect with Dr. Hank Harvey, Student Services Coordinator at Cary Grove High School. Please note, only a small portion of D155 students are eligible for Promise based on where they live.

Promise High School Criteria:

Attendance

Students may only miss the following number of days:

Second semester of freshman year: 5
Sophomore year: 9
Junior year: 8
Senior year: 7

(3 tardies equal one absence)

Rigor/Quality
Graduate college-ready.

Minimum annual grade point average (unweighted):

Second semester of freshman year: 2.0
Sophomore year: 2.25
Junior year: 2.25**
Senior year: 2.3**
**No semester grades of D or F.

Persistence

Meet minimum credit standards at
the end of each year.
Graduate on time with your class.

Community Service
Number of hours per year:

Second semester of freshman year: 5
Sophomore year: 10
Junior year: 15
Senior year: 20

D211 - enter hours in the Involvement Tab of your Student Readiness Plan
D214 and D220 - enter hours in the Transeo system
Contact your high school student services office for more information.

Additionally, an annual recommitment process is required at the beginning of Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year. The recommitment process becomes available August 15th and must be submitted by September 15th. Information on how to recommit will be mailed to the address on file with the high school, along with email reminders to complete this important step.

During Senior year of high school, enroll at Harper College.

Seniors, follow this timeline to remain eligible.

All participants are required to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA (Social Security number required). Learn more about how financial aid works with Promise.

If you meet these requirements in high school, you'll earn the first semester of Harper tuition free. You can continue to attend Harper College tuition-free, semester by semester, for up to four semesters (60 credit hours*), if you meet the following criteria.

*Beginning with the high school class of 2025, credits earned before entering Harper will count toward the 60 credit hour limit the Promise Program will pay. This includes dual credit, AP credit, or credits from another institution.

Promise College Criteria:

Rigor/Quality
Minimum semester grade point average:

1st semester: 2.2
2nd semester: 2.3
3rd semester: 2.5
4th semester: 2.5

No grades of D or F or withdrawal.

Persistence

A student must attend full-time each semester completing a total of 30 credits within the first two semesters (around15 credit hours each semester). *Criteria may vary if student is pursuing a Limited Enrollment Program.
A student must attend each consecutive semester (fall/spring) until their certificate or degree is completed –– up to four semesters.
Summer session tuition is not included in the program.

Community Service
Service requirements may be performed through any organization as long as the student is not being compensated.
Harper will offer different opportunities at Harper College for current Harper students to complete their hours.
Service hours during each semester will be logged in the student's MyHarper portal.

Number of hours per semester:

1st semester: 10
2nd semester: 10
3rd semester: 10
4th semester: 10

Ready to Sign Up?

Please contact your high school’s Student Services department. The sign up deadline is December 15 of your freshman year of high school.

Review our FAQs.