What is the Temple Promise?

The Temple Promise is a new last-dollar financial aid grant program designed to make a world-class education at Temple University more accessible and affordable for the best and brightest students regardless of financial means. 

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Temple Promise program will begin with qualifying full-time undergraduate students residing in Philadelphia County, who earn admission to the university. It will ease educational costs for families by closing the remaining gap after other financial aid awards are applied toward in-state Pennsylvania undergraduate tuition and eligible fees. 

It is being offered to Philadelphia residents who graduate from high school in spring 2025 and qualify for fall 2025 admission and in-state tuition, with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less with financial need as documented on the FAFSA. As a last-dollar award, the program covers the remaining cost after all other qualifying aid is applied to a student’s account. Temple is starting with students from Philadelphia County in the 2025-2026 academic year, with the potential of expanding the program’s geographical reach in future years. 

Who can I contact at Temple with questions about the Temple Promise grant program?
Contact Temple’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions by calling 215-204-7200 or toll-free at 888-340-2222. If you have questions about financial aid options in general, visit Temple’s Student Financial Services website.

Who is eligible for the Temple Promise financial aid grant program?
To qualify for the program, students must meet the following criteria.

• Be admitted to Temple University as a first-year undergraduate student for fall 2025

• Have a permanent Philadelphia address, legally qualify for Pennsylvania’s in-state tuition and graduate from high school in 2025 

• Attend Temple University’s Ambler or Main Campus 

• Enroll at Temple full time (12–18 credit hours is defined as full time and students are assessed the full-time semester rate in this credit-hour range.)

• Be working toward their first bachelor’s degree 

• File the 2025-2026 FAFSA by April 1, 2025 

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen

• Have a total family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less and have financial need as documented on the FAFSA

I am transferring to Temple University. Am I eligible for the Temple Promise program?
No, only first-year undergraduate students are considered for the Temple Promise. Opportunities for new transfer students include the following.

• New transfer students (U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens) with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher are considered for academic scholarships ranging from $2,000–$8,000, based on a review of previous college work during the application process. No separate application is required.
• New transfer students (U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens) are also encouraged to file the FASFA for need-based or other financial aid funding. 

What costs are covered by the Temple Promise program?
The Temple Promise program covers eligible students’ full-time tuition and mandatory university services fee. It does not include room and board and costs for course materials or fees that are related to specific courses. To learn more about tuition and fees at Temple and an explanation of university fees, visit the Bursar’s Office website at bursar.temple.edu/tuition-and-fees/explanation-fees. 

How is the Temple Promise program offered?
The Temple Promise funding is need-based financial aid that covers the remaining cost of tuition and the mandatory university services fee not already covered by federal, state and other institutional funding, such as merit scholarships, and non-Temple tuition-restricted funding.

What is ‘last-dollar’ financial aid?
Last-dollar awards and programs are paid after all other financial aid resources have been awarded. The last-dollar amount is determined based on the balance between the aid that has been awarded and the aid that is still needed to help a student meet the cost of tuition and the mandatory university services fee.

Will I be able to attend Temple tuition free?
With the Temple Promise financial aid grant program, a qualifying incoming student can attend Temple University tuition free for the 2025-2026 academic year or later. Any tuition owed will be paid from financial aid resources.

Are continuing students or graduate students eligible?
No, only first-year, full-time undergraduate students are eligible for the Temple Promise program.

Am I eligible for the Temple Promise program for more than one year?
Eligible students are reviewed for funding renewal each year, and those students who satisfy all criteria may receive the Temple Promise grant for up to eight full-time semesters.

What are the eligibility criteria for renewal after a student’s first year at Temple?
Eligible student must continue to have a permanent Philadelphia address, legally qualify for Pennsylvania in-state tuition, file the annual FASFA by Feb. 1, have an annual family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less and have need, and continue to meet the financial academic progress (SAP) requirements. 

What if I take off a semester or academic year from Temple University and am not enrolled, will I still be eligible for the Temple Promise program?
Students’ eligibility will be reviewed for each academic year (fall and spring semesters) in which they are enrolled.

Can I attend Temple University part time and still receive the Temple Promise financial aid grant?
No, you must be enrolled full time to receive the Temple Promise grant. 

What if I lose eligibility in my sophomore year? Will I be considered again in my junior year?
You can regain eligibility if established criteria are met. 

Can my financial aid eligibility change if Temple University has asked to review additional documents or information?
If the university has requested additional information, a student’s Temple Promise grant is contingent on providing this information for review. If the information submitted is different from what was reported originally, a student’s funding eligibility may change. 

What are the credit requirements?
Recipients of the grant must be full-time students, completing 12 to 18 credit hours each semester. 

Are expenses like the cost of room and board and course fees covered by the grant program?
No, the Temple Promise financial aid program only covers the cost of tuition and mandatory university fees; costs associated with room and board and course-specific class and lab fees are not covered.  

How much income can my family earn to be eligible for the Temple Promise financial aid grant program?
To receive the Temple Promise grant, families must have an adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less. 

I am receiving financial aid that covers the cost of tuition. Can I also receive the Temple Promise grant? 
If you are receiving financial aid that covers the cost of tuition but not fees, the Temple Promise program will cover the remaining cost of the university services fee after all other federal, state and institutional scholarships and grants have been applied to a student’s account. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services for more information.

What is adjusted gross income?
Adjusted gross income is defined by the Internal Revenue Service as total income minus deductions. It is determined by the income of the student, the spouse and/or parents where applicable. 

How much can I receive from the Temple Promise financial aid grant program?
Aid awarded by the Temple Promise program will cover a student’s tuition and eligible mandatory university fee balance after all other awards have been applied to the tuition account. 

Do I have to take out student loans?
You might. There will be costs other than tuition and mandatory university fees associated with attending Temple. You may need funds for room, board, textbooks and other expenses. You should discuss your need and eligibility for loans with Student Financial Services. 

What expenses does the grant cover?
The Temple Promise program covers only a student’s net in-state tuition and mandatory university fees balance after all other awards and grants have been applied. The program does not cover room, board or course-specific class and lab fees. 

How do I apply for the Temple Promise financial aid grant program and when will it become available?
All eligible students will automatically be considered for the Temple Promise program if they are admitted as a first-year undergraduate student for fall 2025 and they have filed the 2025-2026 FAFSA by April 1, 2025. Contact Student Financial Services if you have any questions.

How do I let Temple know that I want to be considered for the Temple Promise financial aid grant program?
All eligible students will automatically be considered for the Temple Promise program if they are admitted as a first-year undergraduate student for fall 2025 and they have filed the 2025-2026 FAFSA by April 1, 2025. Contact Student Financial Services if you have any questions.

How do I accept participation in the Temple Promise grant program?
Students should accept their offer of admission to Temple by paying their enrollment deposit through their TUportal.

Is the Temple Promise program available for summer courses?
No, the Temple Promise grant is only available for fall and spring semesters. 

When will I hear that I am eligible for the Temple Promise program?
Students should receive confirmation about their eligibility in spring 2025.