The Scholarship
Eligibility
To qualify for the Humboldt Promise Scholarship, students must:
- Graduate from Humboldt High School.
- Have been enrolled in Humboldt schools since at least 10th grade.
- Have attended in-person classes for at least two years in the tenure leading up to graduation.
- Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher during high school.
- Complete 50 hours of approved community service.*
To apply, students must also complete a Humboldt Promise Scholarship application and the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).
*The community service requirement is waived for the Class of 2025 and prorated for the Classes of 2026-28.
Scholarship Terms
- The Humboldt Promise provides tuition & mandatory fees for up to 120 credit hours at any Title IV post-secondary institution. It does not cover lodging, food, books, supplies, or program fees.
- Students can request to defer their award up to four years for military service or up to two years for public service or work experience.
- The scholarship must be used within six years after the student’s initial post-secondary enrollment.
- Funds are paid directly to the educational institution after the drop/add period each semester.
- The scholarship can be used for graduate-level classes if within the 120 credit-hour limit.
- Summer classes may be funded after completing one academic year, with program approval.
- The scholarship is available to the Class of 2025 and later.
Calculating awards
| Length of Enrollment | Coverage Rate |
|---|---|
| Since Elementary School | 100% |
| Since Middle School | 90% |
| Since 9th Grade | 80% |
| Since 10th Grade | 60% |
| Since 11th or 12th Grade | Not eligible |
For many students, the full cost of their college enrollment—up to ~$50,000—may be covered by the Humboldt Promise Scholarship.
The maximum scholarship payout for 2025 is $404 per credit hour, equal to the highest in-state tuition at a Kansas public university.
A recipient’s award is also based on the length of their continuous enrollment in Humboldt schools. Graduates who have been enrolled since elementary school are qualified for up to 100% of their tuition and fees. Those who joined the district between elementary school and 10th grade qualify for a lesser amount. See the adjacent chart for the full list of coverage rates.
The scholarship’s financial structure has been designed to encourage students to pursue additional sources of financial aid, while maximizing the longevity of the program for future Humboldt graduates. Any scholarship the student receives paying less than $2000 per semester will have no effect on the student’s award. Scholarships paying more than $2000 reduce the student’s Promise award by 25% of the third-party scholarship.
For example, a student who receives a $3000 Pell Grant and a $1000 scholarship would have their Humboldt Promise Scholarship reduced by $3000 * 25% = $750. (Only the $3000 Pell Grant is relevant to this calculation, as the $1000 scholarship is less than $2000.)
If a student’s other scholarships and grants cover the full cost of their first-year tuition & fees, the Humboldt Promise Scholarship can be deferred to the student’s second year.
Maintaining Access to Your Scholarship
To continue receiving financial support from the Humboldt Promise Scholarship, students must:
- Enroll full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) at an approved institution.
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher each semester.
- Remain in good standing with their institution.
We are now accepting applications from the Class of 2025.
Applications are being mailed to this year’s graduates, but can also be downloaded here.
Going forward, students will apply during their senior year.
Frequently asked questions
Can the scholarship be used to get a vocational degree or technical certification?
Yes. As long as the institution is a Title IV school, they are an eligible recipient of scholarship funds. For the complete list of Title IV schools, refer to the Federal Student Aid list of participating schools.
Can the scholarship be used for summer school classes?
The scholarship will pay for summer school classes after the student’s first full-year of attendance, with prior approval from the scholarship coordinator, and for classes that provide progress toward the student’s degree or certification.
Can I use the scholarship at a private college?
The scholarship is applicable to all Title IV institutions, including universities, colleges and technical institutions. The full list can be found on the Federal Student Aid website: list of participating schools.
Is the Humboldt Promise Scholarship need-based?
No. However, all applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine whether need-based federal aid is available to them.
What is the most the scholarship will pay?
Tuition and mandatory fees will be paid based on the cost of the institution the student is attending. The maximum payable amount is set by the highest annual resident tuition at a Kansas public university, adjusted each year. In 2025, the highest tuition rate in the state is $6,051.05 at the University of Kansas for a student taking 15 credit hours. The scholarship covers up to 120 credit hours, so the maximum lifetime award at today’s cost is around $48,400.
How do I know how much the scholarship will pay for my plans?
In most cases, calculating a scholarship’s payout is simple: multiply the student’s coverage rate (100%, 90%, 80%, or 60%) by their total cost of tuition and mandatory fees. If you’ve received scholarships that pay $2000 or more per semester, you will also need to deduct 25% of those. Here’s a sample invoice one might receive from a school and the calculation to determine your payout. Remember that books, supplies, non-mandatory fees (like those for specific courses of study), food, lodging, parking, etc. are not covered by the scholarship.
What is a “coverage rate”?
A student’s “coverage rate” is the extent to which the scholarship will pay their applicable costs (tuition + mandatory fees). This rate is determined by the length the student has been continuously enrolled in the Humboldt school district:
- Since Elementary School: 100%
- Since Middle School: 90%
- Since 9th Grade: 80%
- Since 10th Grade: 60%
Some students may have unique situations that raise questions, which we’ve tried to address with the following worksheet: Coverage Rate Scenarios.
Why is the benefit on a sliding scale?
The Humboldt Promise is designed to provide maximum benefit to long-term attendees of USD 258. A major goal of the program is to encourage families to make early decisions to enroll their students at Humboldt and to maintain that enrollment through graduation.
If I have other scholarships that cover my tuition, can I use the scholarship for room & board?
No. The scholarship can only be used to cover tuition and mandatory fees. However, if a student receives scholarships that cover their tuition and fees for the first year, they can defer the start of their award to their second year.
When will I receive funds from the scholarship?
Funds will be paid directly to the student’s educational institution upon receipt of an invoice each semester. Invoices are usually sent after the add/drop date of the semester, generally one-to-two weeks after classes begin.
What if I attended USD 258, left, and then returned later?
A student’s coverage rate is determined by their continuous enrollment in the district. It will be calculated from the date of their most recent enrollment for a full academic year.
How long do I have to access scholarship funds?
Once a recipient begins to use their award, they will have 6 years to use the 120 credit hour limit of the scholarship. In many cases, a student can defer the start of their award for up to 2 years after high school graduation. A 4-year deferment is eligible for military service.
How long will the Humboldt Promise Scholarship be available?
The program is currently funded for an estimated 25 years, through the Class of 2050.
How is the Humboldt Promise Scholarship funded?
The Works Family Foundation created The Humboldt Promise to give Humboldt students an additional opportunity to pursue higher education and as an investment in the Humboldt community. The Works Family Foundation will provide 100 percent of the scholarship funds.