Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from West Virginia's official program pages.
The short answer: West Virginia PROMISE takes a 21 ACT or 1080 SAT plus a 3.0 high school GPA. It pays $5,500 a year or the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less. For 2027-2028 applicants, a superscore built across test dates counts.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROMISE Scholarship | 1080 | 21 | 3.0 | $5,500 a year or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less |
Beyond the score:
- PROMISE Scholarship: Your teen must finish high school in West Virginia, and your teen and a parent or guardian must have lived in the state for the 12 months before the application deadline.
How the test score counts
Your teen qualifies on the ACT or the SAT, not a mix of the two. For 2027-2028 applicants, CFWV builds a superscore from the best scores across test dates within one test, and the ACT composite uses English, Reading, and Math. For the class of 2027, the last qualifying dates are the June 2027 SAT and the July 2027 ACT. Send scores to CFWV with ACT code 4539 or SAT code 3456, and ask ACT for individual test scores, since CFWV calculates the superscore itself.
How the GPA is calculated
The 3.0 is the overall high school GPA on a 4.0 scale in courses required for graduation, and county policy may allow weighted grades. Your teen can qualify on junior-year grades but must hold the 3.0 through the end of senior year, or the award is revoked.
Which class year these rules cover
These rules are published for the class of 2027. CFWV usually posts each class's rules by October 1 of senior year.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| PROMISE application and FAFSA (class of 2027) | March 1, 2027 |
| Last SAT date to qualify (class of 2027) | June 2027 |
| Last ACT date to qualify (class of 2027) | July 2027 |
| Late award for students who miss March 1 | Starts the following spring semester if funds allow, and must be requested within 2 years of high school graduation |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in West Virginia SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
Your teen needs a 2.75 cumulative college GPA and 30 earned credit hours each academic year. Credits earned before the first fall semester of college do not count toward the 30 hours, though they do count in the GPA. Falling below the GPA requirement cancels the scholarship, and there is an appeal process for the credit-hour rule.
Where it pays
Eligible West Virginia colleges and universities, toward tuition and mandatory fees up to $5,500 a year. Your teen must start as a full-time first-year student.
The misconception: PROMISE still needs one sitting
Families who went through PROMISE with an older child may remember a single-sitting rule. Applicants for 2027-2028 can now qualify with a superscore built from different test dates. A student who fell short on every individual sitting may already qualify on combined best scores.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the West Virginia colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
What SAT or ACT score does my teen need for West Virginia PROMISE?
A 21 ACT or a 1080 SAT, plus a 3.0 high school GPA. Your teen needs both the score and the GPA.
Can my teen combine the best section scores from different test dates?
Yes, for 2027-2028 applicants. CFWV calculates the superscore from the official scores it receives.
Can my teen mix an ACT score with an SAT score?
No. Your teen must qualify entirely on one test, the ACT or the SAT.
What if my teen has not hit the score by the March 1 deadline?
Apply by March 1 anyway. CFWV adds scores and grades to the application as they arrive, through the June SAT or July ACT of senior year.
Does a higher score mean a bigger PROMISE award?
No. PROMISE has one award: $5,500 a year or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less.
Do college classes taken in high school affect PROMISE?
Yes, they count in the GPA. College coursework from high school is included in the cumulative GPA used for renewal, but those credits do not count toward the 30 hours your teen must earn each year in college.
Sources
- CFWV: PROMISE Scholarship
- CFWV: PROMISE Scholarship Requirements
- CFWV: Renew Your Scholarship
- CFWV: PROMISE Scholarship FAQs
- WV Higher Education Policy Commission: PROMISE deadlines
- WV Higher Education Policy Commission: PROMISE Scholarship Program Rule (Series 7)
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the PROMISE line and the ranges at their West Virginia colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for West Virginia families: West Virginia SAT prep and SAT Scores for West Virginia Colleges.