Tuition, fees, housing—it all adds up. And for some, the gaps can be the deciding factor in earning a college degree or not. In the spirit of our motto, “So all may learn,” the Empowering Futures Gift sponsors several scholarships for students in need, with particular focus on those who are first-generation college students or identify as part of a historically marginalized community.
Student Financial Aid
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5337 USA
(269) 387-6000
The Bronco Promise offers free tuition and fees for up to five years for Michigan residents in need, defined by eligibility criteria below. Students can receive the award in the fall and spring semesters only for 12-15 credit hours.
There is no application required for this scholarship, but the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed by July 1. The award will be renewed each academic year if students continue to demonstrate financial need via the FAFSA and are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
If a student was awarded and paid the scholarship after their first-year entry semester but does not meet the qualifications for the award in a subsequent year, they may file an appeal for reinstatement. Appeals will be considered for:
No appeals will be considered for students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits hours per semester, changes in residency status, an award in a summer session or additional semesters of eligibility beyond the 10 semesters allotted.
The Bronco Promise covers WMU resident (in-state) tuition and can be applied to up to 15 credit hours each semester. It also covers differential tuition as well as the assessment and sustainability fees. Awards may be applied to fall and spring semesters only.
Class fees such as those for instructional resources, laboratories, field trips or industry specialists as well as fees for participating in Lee Honors College are not included in the program. Students will be responsible for tuition costs associated with enrolling in over 15 credits per semester.
Students may receive the award for up to 10 consecutive semesters, for fall and spring only. For the duration of enrollment, participants must complete the FAFSA each year and maintain a family household AGI of $50,000 or less and net assets under $50,000. Students must accept all federal and state need-based scholarships and grants—but not loans—for which they are eligible. They must also accept any offered admissions scholarships and location-based scholarships, such as the Kalamazoo Promise, as well as WMU’s employee tuition benefits program, if they are eligible.
The program begins in the fall term of the year of admittance. To maintain eligibility, participants must be enrolled full time in the fall and spring semester for up to five consecutive years until graduation and remain in satisfactory academic progress.
The Bronco Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover tuition and fees not otherwise covered by the Pell grant; admissions-based awards; tuition-specific awards, both institutional and external awards; and tuition-specific state of Michigan awards.
Admissions-based awards at WMU include:
Director’s Scholarship
President’s Academic Excellence Scholarship
Books for Broncos
Brown and Gold Scholarship
Bronco Honors Scholarship
Bronco Merit Scholarship
Bronco Recognition Scholarship
Detroit Promise Scholarship
WMU Foundation Scholarship
Grand Rapids Challenge Scholarship
WMU Incentive Scholarship
Seita Scholarship
Medallion Scholarship
MLK GOLD Scholarship
Michigan Youth Scholarship
Tuition-specific institutional awards include:
WMU tuition remission
3+1 WMU FIRST Scholarship
Athletics tuition scholarships
Anthropology Armintrout Scholarship
College of Education & Human Development Bolte Hopkins Scholarship
Communication Culture & Com. SA Award
College of Education & Human Development ELATE Scholarship
Geography TRC Award Scholarship
Statistics Hearron Scholarship
College of Education & Human Development Howard & Mary Pendell Scholarship
College of Education & Human Development John & Bertha Goodman Scholarship
College of Education & Human Development Margaret Isobel Black Scholarship
College of Fine Arts Monsour/Shubeck Scholarship
Chemistry Nanojar Scholarship
College of Education & Human Development Persistence Scholarship
Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering & Imaging Robert Caine Student Award
Accountancy Rozelle Scholarship
Geosciences Shirley Aiken Scholarship
Tuition-specific external awards include:
Heyl Nursing Scholarship
Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship
Tuition Specific State of Michigan Aid include:
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
Fostering Futures Scholarship
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
Michigan Competitive Scholarship
Michigan Indian Tuition
Tuition Incentive Program
Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant
Please note, these lists may not be exhaustive and are subject to change.
We want to make the full Western experience possible for you, including finding a community to navigate this journey with you. The Bronco Connect Scholarship reduces housing and food costs for qualified students for their first year on campus; eligible students may apply for a second year. Recipients will live in the Bronco Connect Living Learning Community, specially designed to provide students a strong start to college by creating belonging and providing enhanced career exploration, community engagement, study skills and campus life.
The Bronco Connect Scholarship is valued at $6,000 per year with an opportunity to apply for a second year.
Be a first-year student or member of the Year 1 cohort going into your sophomore year.
Be a Michigan resident. Preference will be given to:
Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates.
Graduates from Detroit high schools that have a Detroit address.
Graduates from the Grand Rapids high schools* listed below.
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 28.
Have demonstrated financial need based on FAFSA.
To take advantage of this rare opportunity only Western offers, apply in ScholarshipUniverse for the Bronco Connect Scholarship, which requires short answers (250 words maximum) to two questions. The application is due by April 28; decisions will be announced in April and May.
The University will award 800 graduation scholarships up to $1,000 each year to upper-level students in need of funds to complete their degree. These funds are awarded in Student Financial Aid, and there is no application necessary.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5200 USA
(269) 387-1000
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