Fort Scott Community College is offering the Kansas Promise Scholarship (HB 2064), part of a $10 million program passed by the Kansas Legislature and signed by Governor Kelly in April 2021. The Kansas Promise Service Scholarship was created during the 2021 Kansas Legislative Session to assist students attending Kansas community colleges, technical colleges, Washburn Institute of Technology and certain private postsecondary educational institutions and enrolled in specified programs of study, generally in the fields of (1) information technology and security, (2) mental and physical health care, (3) advanced manufacturing and building trades, (4) early childhood education and development, or (5) agriculture. This scholarship may be used toward tuition, required fees, books and required program materials (KBOR, 2021).
The Kansas Promise Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship and assists with costs that institutional or grant scholarships are unable to cover. Recipients must meet all qualifications listed below and complete the application process to be eligible for this opportunity. For more information, please view the Kansas Regents Promise Act Scholarship webpage.
Eligible Students
For students to be eligible for a service scholarship, they must:
- Be a United States citizen and Kansas resident; AND
- Have graduated from a secondary school within the preceding 12 months or have attended a secondary school and obtained an equivalent credential within the preceding 12 months; OR
- Be Kansas resident for the preceding three consecutive years; OR
- Be a dependent child of a military servicemember permanently stationed in another state and who, within the preceding 12 months, graduated from any out-of-state secondary school or obtained a high school equivalency; OR
- Was in the custody of the KS Department of Children and Families at any time during grades 9-12.
To be eligible, students must have a family household income of:
- $100,000 or less for a family of two;
- $150,000 or less for a family of three; and
- $150,000 + $4,800 per additional family member beyond three.
Students must:
- Complete the required scholarship application;
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
- Enter into a Kansas promise scholarship agreement; and enroll in, and complete within 36 months of first being awarded a Kansas Promise scholarship, an eligible field of study at an eligible institution.
The bill permits students to enroll on a part-time or full-time basis, but students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the promise-eligible program and complete the program within 36 months from the first award. Upon completion of the program, students must reside and work in Kansas for a minimum of two consecutive years or enroll in a Kansas institution of higher education and subsequently reside and work in Kansas for a minimum of two consecutive years.
Students satisfy the requirements of the scholarship agreement if they
- Satisfy all the requirements of the Kansas promise scholarship agreement;
- Commence service as a military servicemember after receiving the scholarship;
- Are determined by the Board of Regents to have “made the best possible effort to do so;” OR
- Are unable to satisfy the requirements due to disability or death of the recipient.
If any condition of the agreement is not met and the student is not found to otherwise have satisfied the requirements in accordance with the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act, the student must repay the scholarship plus accrued interest (at the federal PLUS program interest rate) within six months after failure to satisfy the agreement. Causes for repayment would include if a student changes enrollment to an in-eligible program. The bill allows for installment payments on the indebtedness, and the Board of Regents is authorized to transfer repayment accounts to a loan servicer or collections agency. Requirements may be postponed by the Board of Regents for “good cause.”
Eligible FSCC Programs
- Associate in Arts or Science
- Computer Science
- Elementary Education
- Associate in Applied Science
- Nursing
- Construction Trades
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration (HVAC)
- Home Health Aid
- Agriculture Technology
- John Deere Technician
- Masonry
- Medication Aid (CMA)
- Nursing Aid (CNA)
- Welding
*Specific academic programs eligible for the Kansas Promise Scholarship are subject to change at the discretion of KBOR. Transfer programs are subject to further eligiibility requirements; restrictions apply.
Student Expectations
- Enroll in and successfully complete an eligible program of study from the above list (min. of 6 credit hours required)
- Complete the program within 36 months of first being awarded a Kansas Promise Scholarship; AND
- Sign a Kansas Promise Service Scholarship Agreement to live and work in Kansas for a minimum of two consecutive years following successful completion of your program. Failure to do so will result in your having to repay the amount of the scholarship you received plus interest. The interest is at the current rate of interest for the federal PLUS loan (Parent Loan) at the time you are awarded the scholarship. The PLUS interest rate is 6.284% beginning July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
- If your program of study continues beyond one year, complete the Kansas Promise Service Scholarship Renewal Application to continue to be eligible for funding.
Application Process
- Apply to Fort Scott Community College (no application fee)
- Complete your Financial Aid (FAFSA). This is required for the Kansas Promise Scholarship and all scholarships at FSCC. Make sure to input FSCC's code 001916
- Apply for FSCC scholarships
- Complete the Kansas Promise Scholarship application at the Kansas Regents Promise Act Scholarship webpage.
- Enroll in one of the many Kansas Promise eligible programs
- Contact Advising at advising@fortscott.edu or call 620.223.2700 ext. 3630
Questions?
For more information, contact the Admissions office at admissions@fortscott.edu or call 620.223.2700 ext. 3510
