W.Va. Report Raises Questions About Scholarships

TOM BREEN

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Recipients of merit-based PROMISE scholarships stay in West Virginia at a lower rate than the average in-state college graduate, a new report shows.

Some lawmakers say the finding is not necessarily a knock on the program.

"We're looking at a cup, and someone's saying it's one-third empty when really it's two-thirds full," said state Sen. Mike Oliverio, D-Monongalia.

West Virginia University's Bureau of Business and Economic Research reported Wednesday that about 62 percent of PROMISE scholars remain in West Virginia after graduating. That's in contrast to about 67 percent of all in-state students, and 70 percent of students who receive need-based tuition aid.

"At least to date, the evidence we have suggest the PROMISE scholarship isn't having a big impact on the state's human capital," said George Hammond, associate director of the bureau.

Hammond does caution that there's still a lot to learn about the program, since only two cohorts of PROMISE scholars have graduated since it began in 2002.