Midwestern State University Texas Partner Page · Fall 2027

DCP can close the tuition gap at Midwestern State University, after your financial aid.

At MSU, Dallas County Promise is funded by MSU endowment dollars as an extension of the Mustangs Guarantee Program. It helps students who graduate from a participating Dallas County high school cover tuition and mandatory fees once all other financial aid is applied. This is a "last-dollar" grant.

This guide covers Dallas County Promise requirements specifically for students attending Midwestern State University. Planning to attend a different partner school? See other partner schools →

How do I apply? Check eligibility

Welcome to Midwestern State University Texas

Fall 2027

Quick Facts

Gap

MSU covers remaining tuition & mandatory fees after your other aid is applied

Mar 1

Priority deadline: admission & FAFSA for Fall 2027

≤ $85k

Family AGI limit, plus Pell Grant eligibility required

Award length:

8 semesters (Path 1) 4 semesters (transfer) 12 credits/semester

Contact MSU

What is the Dallas County Promise MSU Program?

DCP covers what's left after your other aid

At Midwestern State University, the Dallas County Promise is funded by MSU endowment dollars and is an extension of the Mustangs Guarantee Program. It helps students who graduate from a participating Dallas County high school pay for college at MSU by covering tuition and mandatory fees that remain after your other financial aid is applied. This page details how it works specifically at MSU. Requirements, deadlines, and processes vary at other partner schools.

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This award covers tuition and mandatory fees only. Budget separately for housing and food, transportation, supplies, parking fees, installment plan fees, post office box rental fees, late fines, reinstatement fees, late registration fees, and other personal expenses.

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Extra funds: If outside scholarships or financial aid cover all your tuition and fees in full, any remaining funds will first go toward MSU housing and dining. After all MSU obligations are paid, any remaining balance will be refunded to you for other education-related expenses.

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Student-athletes: In accordance with NCAA rules, student-athletes will be considered for awards on an individual basis. Certain forms of assistance through this program may not be available to student-athletes.

Two Ways to Participate

There are two paths into the Dallas County Promise program at MSU. Find yours below.

Award covers tuition and mandatory fees for 12 credit hours/semester, up to 8 consecutive semesters (4 years)
Only 4 semesters / 2 years if you also earned an Associate Degree in high school

Award covers tuition and mandatory fees for 12 credit hours/semester, up to 4 consecutive semesters (2 years)
Must complete the associate degree at Dallas College before transferring. Students who transfer without one fall under MSU's standard transfer scholarship policies instead

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Minimum enrollment: MSU requires enrollment in at least 12 credit hours each semester to receive the award, even though the award itself is calculated based on 12 credit hours/semester.

Eligibility

Am I eligible?

Eligibility differs depending on your path. Select your path below to see the requirements that apply to you.

For students graduating in the Class of 2027, enrolling Fall 2027-2028. You qualify if you meet ALL of the following:

Requirement	What It Means for You
High School Attendance	Attended a participating Dallas County high school for the full current school year and graduated from it this year
Promise Deadlines	Met all Dallas County Promise deadlines: Promise Path form, admission application, financial aid application, orientation, and enrollment
Pell Grant Eligibility	Qualify for a federal Pell Grant, as determined by your FAFSA
Family Income	Combined family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $85,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA
Citizenship & Residency	Be a U.S. citizen and a Texas resident
Start Term	Start classes at MSU in the Fall semester right after high school graduation
Enrollment Load	Enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester (award is calculated based on 12 credit hours/semester)
Continuous Enrollment	Enroll in both Fall AND Spring during your first year, and every year after. You cannot skip a semester, and the award covers Fall/Spring only, not Summer or mini-terms

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Stop Out: If you sit out for one full Fall or Spring semester, you must complete an appeal form to continue in the program.

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International Students: Currently not eligible for the Dallas County Promise program at MSU.

For students graduating with an associate's degree, enrolling Fall 2027 through Spring 2028. You qualify as a Dallas County Promise transfer student if you meet ALL of the following:

Requirement	What It Means for You
Dallas College Eligibility	Maintained Dallas County Promise eligibility at Dallas College, and completed a transferable associate degree (AA, AS, or AAT)
Citizenship & Residency	Be a U.S. citizen and a Texas resident
Family Income	Combined family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $85,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA
Pell Grant Eligibility	Qualify for a federal Pell Grant, as determined by your FAFSA
Admission Timing	Be accepted for transfer admission to MSU by March 1, 2027 (Fall) or November 1, 2027 (Spring)
FAFSA	Submit the FAFSA each year by March 1
Enrollment Timing	Start classes the semester immediately after completing your associate degree, with no gap in enrollment allowed
Continuous Enrollment	Enroll in both Fall AND Spring throughout your 4-semester (2-year) eligibility period. You cannot skip a semester, and the award covers Fall/Spring only, not Summer or mini-terms

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Important: You must complete your associate degree BEFORE transferring to MSU. Students who transfer without finishing an associate degree are NOT eligible for the Dallas County Promise grant. They'd fall under MSU's standard transfer scholarship policies instead.

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Stop Out: If you sit out for one full Fall or Spring semester, you must complete an appeal form to continue in the program.

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International Students: Currently not eligible for the Dallas County Promise program at MSU.

How to Apply

Application steps by path

Select your path below to see the application steps and deadlines that apply to you.

To be considered for all of MSU's competitive scholarships in addition to Dallas Promise, apply and file for aid by these deadlines for Fall 2027:

Be Admitted to MSU by March 1, 2027

Submit your MSU admission application for Fall 2027.

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Fee waiver: The $50 application fee is waived for students with a complete Promise Path form on file.

Complete Your Financial Aid File by March 1, 2027

Have a complete financial aid file, including all required verification documents, on file by the priority deadline.

Complete All Dallas County Promise Steps

Promise Path form, admission application, financial aid application, scholarships, orientation, and enrollment.

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Questions about admission, scholarships, financial aid, or fee waivers? Contact Keaton Whitaker.

Applies to Fall 2027 through Spring 2028 transfers. To be considered for all of MSU's competitive scholarships in addition to Dallas Promise, apply and file for aid by these priority deadlines:

Be Admitted to MSU

By March 1, 2027 for Fall, or by November 1, 2027 for Spring. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended.

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Fee waiver: The $50 application fee is waived for students with a complete Promise Path form on file.

Submit FAFSA

By March 1, 2027 for Fall, or by December 1, 2027 for Spring, including all required documents if selected for verification.

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Questions about admission, scholarships, financial aid, or fee waivers? Contact Keaton Whitaker.

Mar 1Priority Deadline

March 1, 2027: admission & FAFSA priority deadline

Whether you're a first-time student or a Dallas College transfer heading to MSU for Fall 2027, both your MSU admission application and your FAFSA are due by this date. Spring 2028 transfers have separate deadlines. See Path 2 above.

Renewal Requirements

Keeping the award for 2028-2029 and beyond

Once you are at MSU, you must meet all of the following each year to keep your award:

Be registered for at least 12 credit hours through the 12th class day each Fall and Spring semester (only MSU credits count)
Earn at least 12 credit hours by the end of the Fall semester
Earn at least 24 credit hours by the end of each academic year (Fall + Spring + Summer credits all count)
Maintain a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.00, checked at the end of each Fall and Spring semester
Meet and maintain MSU's Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, as described in the MSU Undergraduate Catalog
Continue to qualify for the federal Pell Grant, as determined by the FAFSA
Complete your bachelor's degree within 8 consecutive semesters (4 years) of enrollment if entering with your high school diploma
Complete your bachelor's degree within 4 consecutive semesters (2 years) of enrollment if entering with a high school diploma + associate degree

Once enrolled at MSU as a transfer student, you must meet all of the following each year:

Be registered for at least 12 credit hours through the 12th class day each Fall and Spring semester (only MSU credits count)
Earn at least 12 credit hours by the end of the Fall semester
Earn at least 24 credit hours by the end of each academic year (Fall + Spring + Summer credits all count)
Maintain a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.00, checked at the end of each Fall and Spring semester
Meet and maintain MSU's Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, as described in the MSU Undergraduate Catalog
Continue to qualify for the federal Pell Grant and maintain a combined family AGI of $85,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA

Program Rules

What you can, must, and may not do

These rules apply to students on both Path 1 and Path 2.

✔ What You CAN Do

Receive other outside private, endowed, and departmental scholarships. Contact the MSU Financial Aid Office for details

• What You MUST Do

Accept all gift aid you are eligible for, including Pell and state grants
Review and accept the terms and conditions of the Dallas County Promise award
Complete your FAFSA, including all required verification steps, by the priority deadline of March 1 each year

✖ What You May NOT Do

Transfer the award to another college or university outside MSU
Return to MSU and receive funds after or while attending another institution
Transfer the award to another person
Receive a refund for any unused Dallas County Promise dollars
Have a gap in enrollment between completing your associate degree and enrolling at MSU (Path 2 only)

Quick Reference

Key numbers & terms

Plain-language definitions for the terms and numbers you'll see throughout this program.

Term / Number	Plain-Language Meaning
Last-dollar grant	Covers tuition and mandatory fees remaining after all other grants and scholarships are applied.
Mustangs Guarantee Program	MSU's institutional program that the Dallas Promise is an extension of; together they aim to guarantee full coverage of tuition and mandatory fees.
Pell Grant eligible	You must qualify for a federal Pell Grant, as determined by your FAFSA, each year to remain eligible.
Family AGI ≤ $85,000	Your household Adjusted Gross Income (from FAFSA) must be $85,000 or less.
12 credits / Fall & Spring	You must register and earn at least 12 credit hours at the beginning and end of each Fall/Spring semester.
12 credits / year	You must earn at least 24 credit hours across the full academic year (Fall + Spring + Summer count).
GPA 2.00	You must maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA at MSU each semester.
FTIC: 8 semesters	First-time college students get up to 8 consecutive semesters (4 years).
FTIC + Associate Degree: 4 semesters	Students who also earned an Associate Degree in high school get up to 4 semesters (2 years).
Transfer: 4 semesters	Transfer students from Dallas College get up to 4 semesters (2 years) at MSU.
$50 fee waiver	The MSU application fee is waived for students who have a complete Promise Path form on file.
FAFSA	The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You must file this every year by March 1.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)	MSU's minimum academic standards, described in the Undergraduate Catalog, that you must meet each year.
NCAA student-athletes	Award availability may differ; student-athletes are reviewed individually per NCAA rules.

Common Questions

Straight answers

Does Dallas County Promise cover all of my costs at MSU?

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No. This is a last-dollar grant that covers tuition and mandatory fees left over after all your other financial aid is applied. Budget separately for housing and food, transportation, supplies, parking fees, installment plan fees, and other personal expenses.

What's the difference between Path 1 and Path 2?

Path 1 is for students who go straight to MSU after high school. The award covers 12 credit hours/semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters (4 years), or 4 semesters (2 years) if you also earned an associate degree in high school. Path 2 is for students who first complete an associate degree at Dallas College and then transfer to MSU. The award covers 12 credit hours/semester for up to 4 consecutive semesters (2 years). You must complete the associate degree before transferring to qualify for Path 2.

What happens to leftover funds if my other aid already covers tuition?

If outside scholarships or financial aid cover all your tuition and fees in full, any remaining funds will first go toward MSU housing and dining. After all MSU obligations are paid, any remaining balance will be refunded to you for other education-related expenses.

What happens if I skip a Fall or Spring semester?

On either path, if you sit out for one full Fall or Spring semester, you must complete an appeal form to continue in the program. The award only covers Fall and Spring; it does not cover Summer or mini-terms.

How many credit hours do I need to enroll in?

MSU requires enrollment in at least 12 credit hours each semester to receive the award, though the award amount itself is calculated based on 12 credit hours/semester. To keep the award year over year, you'll also need to earn at least 12 credit hours by the end of the Fall semester and at least 24 credit hours total across the full academic year.

Are student-athletes eligible?

In accordance with NCAA rules, student-athletes are considered for awards on an individual basis. Certain forms of assistance through the Dallas County Promise / Mustangs Guarantee Program may not be available to student-athletes.

Can I get outside scholarships too?

Yes, you can receive other outside private, endowed, and departmental scholarships. Contact the MSU Financial Aid Office for details. You must still accept all gift aid you're eligible for, including Pell and state grants.

Can I transfer my award to another school, or give it to someone else?

No. You may not transfer the award to another college or university outside MSU, return to MSU and receive funds while attending another institution, transfer the award to another person, or receive a refund for unused Dallas County Promise dollars. Transfer students also may not have a gap in enrollment between completing their associate degree and enrolling at MSU.

Are international students eligible?

International students are currently not eligible for the Dallas County Promise program at MSU. You must be a U.S. citizen and a Texas resident.

Is there an application fee to apply to MSU?

MSU's standard application fee is $50, but it's waived for students who have a complete Promise Path form on file. Contact Keaton Whitaker for fee waiver requests.

Ready to start at MSU?

Submit your MSU admission application and FAFSA by March 1, 2027 for priority processing.

Email MSU Promise