Tuition programs at community colleges

Who runs these programs

Some programs are run by a state agency and cover every public two-year college in the state. Others come from a city, a county or a single college foundation and serve students from one area or one high school district. Many carry the name Promise, a label that does not mean every cost of college is covered.

The college's financial aid office is the place to ask which program applies to its students. It handles the paperwork for state, local and federal awards together.

How the money is calculated

Many of these programs are last-dollar awards. The program looks at tuition and required fees, subtracts the Pell Grant and other grants you already have, and pays what remains. A student whose Pell Grant already covers tuition may see a small award from the program, or none, while still keeping the Pell money for books and transportation.

A smaller group of programs pays first, before other grants are counted, and some add a stipend for students with high need. The program's own rules say which method it uses.

The conditions that come with the award

Most programs ask for the FAFSA by a set date and for proof that you live in the state or the local area. Many require full-time enrollment, a minimum grade average and steady progress toward a degree or certificate.

Some add meetings with a mentor, an orientation session or a set number of community service hours each year. Others ask students to start soon after high school or within a set window. Missing one of these steps can end the award, so keep a list of each requirement and its due date.

Planning for what the program leaves out

Tuition is only part of the cost of attendance. Books, supplies, food, housing and travel to campus usually fall outside the program, and the aid office can tell you which other grants cover them.