Kent State University announced Wednesday that it has partnered with the LeBron James Family Foundation to provide free tuition for four years to eligible students in the first graduating class of his I PROMISE school.
According to Bleacher Report, there are 193 students in the oldest I PROMISE class, and they are currently juniors. They will be eligible for the KSU offer as they enter for their freshman year of college in the 2021-22 school year.
When you show up to @KentState for your 11th grade experience outing, but find out you’re also getting FREE tuition for 4 years AND a year of free room & board‼️ ?? pic.twitter.com/udCrl95qFi
— LeBron James Family Foundation (@LJFamFoundation) February 12, 2020
KSU described how it will roll out the program:
To be eligible for the free tuition, I PROMISE students must be successfully admitted to Kent State, fill out required financial aid forms and complete a requisite number of community service hours each semester.
Under the new program, Kent State will cover the tuition that remains for the I PROMISE students after they receive funds from traditional financial aid sources and will provide the first year’s room and meal plan.
To remain eligible for the free tuition each year, the students must remain in good academic standing, must complete a minimum number of credit hours annually and must take part in a required number of community service or volunteer hours.
The university is slated to launch a fundraising event to help the students with additional costs, including books and the remaining three years of room and board.
James opened the public school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, in 2018 through the LeBron James Family Foundation to specifically help at-risk youth.
