2026-27 Hope Scholarship Projected To Cost $70M Less Than Expected

Back in January, the state Treasurer’s office projected a budget of just over $315 million for the Hope Scholarship program if all of the newly eligible students across the state participated. 

But the number of newly eligible students dropped from roughly 54,000 to 43,000. 

Now, revised projections for the 2026-2027 school year indicate the Hope Scholarship will cost West Virginia just under $245 million – about $70 million less than previously expected.  

“Regardless of the expected cost, we look forward to helping our parents and students find the right education that fits their unique needs,” said state Treasurer Larry Pack, chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, in a press release. 

Those figures could be further revised if needed before the 2026 legislative session gets underway. 

The Hope Scholarship program provides financial assistance to qualifying families of K-12 students to be used for tuition, homeschool curriculum and other qualified educational expenses. 

The amount awarded to each student varies depending on the amount of state aid and the number of students. It’s projected to be $5,435.62 per student for the 2026-27 school year.