If you’re researching ways to pay for college in Virginia, there’s good news. The State of Virginia offers a significant amount of financial aid programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
These college scholarships and grants are administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Below we offer brief descriptions along with relevant links to help college students and their families connect with the right programs.
However, there are important items that you should consider far in advance of submitting scholarship or grant applications. Most notably, many state-funded financial aid programs require the completion of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid. However, it’s also used by states to determine your eligibility for prizes based on financial need. It’s good practice to get an early start on this process.
Of course, there may be other eligibility requirements for specific scholarship awards, too. For example, some scholarships are awarded to students based on merit while college grants are typically given to students with financial need. Again, always read the fine print. Scholarship applications take time. It can be a let down to learn that you’re not eligible, only after you’ve spent hours on a personal statement and other materials.
Whether you’re a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student, the opportunities below for Virginia residents may help ease your education expenses. So, let’s get to the programs.
Virginia Scholarship Programs
Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program
The Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program provides public education to persons who were denied education opportunities in Virginia between 1954 and 1964. To be eligible, applicants must be Virginia residents and meet other terms related to public school closings, 1954 – 1964.
Awards may cover the cost of tuition, fees, and books.
Granville P. Meade Scholarship
The Granville P. Meade Scholarship is a merit and financial need award. It offers funds to high academic achievers who are unable to afford the cost of college. Eligible students must attend a Virginia secondary school and plan to attend a Virginia college or university.
Award amount is $2,000.
Virginia Department of Transportation Civil Engineering Scholarship Program
The Civil Engineering Scholarship Program offers valuable work experience along with educational stipends for education expenses. Following graduation, students are invited into the Engineering Development and Growth Experience (EDGE) program. This is a full-time two-year experience that introduces students to various work environments.
The award is valued at $3,500 for a fall and spring semester.
Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholarships and Fellowships
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) offers a variety of awards for students studying at different levels. Each prize is focused on helping students studying in STEM fields. Additionally, each prize has its own long list of eligibility requirements. However, strong academic achievement is a must. Award committees also encourage underrepresented minorities, females, and students with disabilities to apply.
Here is a breakdown along with links to the four available prizes:
Graduate Research STEM Fellowships: The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) Graduate Research STEM Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support.
Undergraduate Research STEM Scholarships: The VSGC Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Program provides awards of up to $8,500 to rising juniors and seniors enrolled full-time in a program of study in STEM and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance.
Community College Scholarships: The Community College STEM Scholarship provides a one-year, non-renewable award of $2,000 for students enrolled full time during the award period at one of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Students must be majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field and be interested in pursuing a career that supports NASA’s mission.
STEM Bridge Scholarships: The STEM Bridge Scholarship offers $1,000 to students who will be sophomores or juniors during the 2023-2024 academic year. Students from any federally recognized minority group in STEM and enrolled full-time in a program of STEM at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program
The Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program offers support to Virginia students who wish to pursue a teaching career. This program helps to ease critical shortages in the teaching field. To be eligible, students must agree to work in a high-need area as a teacher in Virginia.
For students who complete the work obligation, up to one half of the scholarship loan may be forgiven.
Virginia Grant Programs
Virginia Commonwealth Award
The Virginia Commonwealth Award program offers assistance to undergraduate students with financial need. It is also available to graduate students for college costs. Awards are paid to a student’s institution.
Award amounts vary based on annual available funding. To be eligible for this state grant, students must:
- Be admitted into a Virginia public tow or four-year college or university
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program;
- Be in compliance with federal Selective Service registration requirements;
- Be a resident of Virginia
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the institution;
- Have applied for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or VASA
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program
The Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program provides financial incentive for needy students to consider higher education. Students must attend a high school in Virginia and meet these additional criteria:
- Be admitted into a Virginia public tow or four-year college or university
- Be enrolled full-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program
- Be a resident of Virginia
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the institution;
- Be a graduate from a Virginia high school or complete a program of home school instruction
- Have at least a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent);
- If a home school completer: achieve a SAT verbal and math combined score of at least 980 or ACT Composite score of at least 19;
- Be in compliance with federal Selective Service registration requirements
- Have applied for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or VASA
Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program
The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program (VTAG) is designed to assist Virginia residents who attend accredited private, nonprofit colleges and universities in Virginia for other than religious training or theological education.
Award amounts are based on the number of eligible students to apply. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a resident of Virginia
- Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student
- Be enrolled at an eligible institution pursuing an eligible degree that is not in religious training or theological education
- Eligible graduate programs are limited to those in a health-related professional program
Two-Year College Transfer Grant
The Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program (CTG) provides an incentive for students to first complete an associate degree at a Virginia public two-year college before transferring to a participating Virginia four-year college or university as a means to reduce the overall cost towards completing a bachelor’s degree.
In addition to already paying lower tuition charges for their freshman and sophomore years while attending a two-year college, qualifying students may also receive a CTG award once they transfer to the participating four-year institution.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a first-time entering freshman (at any institution) no earlier than fall 2007.
- Be an undergraduate in-state student
- Be a resident of Virginia
- Have financial need
- Complete a FAFSA or VASA
- Be in compliance with federal Selective Service registration requirements
- Have received an associate degree at a Virginia two-year public institution
- Have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for the associate degree
- Enroll into a Virginia four-year public college or university or a Virginia four-year private nonprofit college or university by the fall or spring immediately following completion of an associate degree
- Enroll full-time into a degree program that is not for religious training or theological education
Workforce Credential Grant
The Workforce Credential Grant is designed to provide low-cost opportunities for students to receive training in a high demand field and receive an industry-based certification or state licensure. Students pay only 1/3 of the cost of the program upon enrollment. Students must complete the training program in order to avoid paying an additional 1/3 of the cost.
In order for a student to be eligible for an award, a student must be a resident of Virginia.
Academic Common Market (ACM)
The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings program that is administered by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and 15 member states. The arrangement allows students to pay in-state tuition rates at out-of-state public institutions while studying in select programs not available in their home state. The following states are partners – Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program
The State Tuition Assistance Program awards conditional grants each semester to an eligible Virginia National Guard service member to reimburse a portion of the tuition cost. Service members incur a 2-year commitment to the Virginia National Guard upon completion of last term for which tuition grant was received.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia program that provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard.
Eligible students, as confirmed by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), are guaranteed waiver of all tuition and mandatory fees at a Virginia public college or university regardless of degree program or enrollment level.
Find More Scholarships and Grants for Virginia College Students
The State of Virginia offers a generous amount of scholarships and grants, but your search shouldn’t end here. In addition to the prizes above, there are countless more private scholarships for Virginia students. Many of these prizes are awarded by charities, businesses, religious organizations, advocacy groups, and other institutions.
You may want to check with your guidance counselor, financial aid office, or community library about prizes. These resources may connect you with local scholarships that are often less competitive than national scholarship competitions.
It may sound like a lot of work, but pursuing scholarships and grants is worth the effort. Financial awards can help you graduate debt-free. Additionally, a track record of scholarships also communicates a message of excellence. This can help open doors for your future and elevate your career status. Doesn’t that sound like a great deal?
The post How to Win Scholarships and Grants – State of Virginia first appeared on BridgesEDU Scholarships.
Published first here: https://bridgeseduscholarships.com/how-to-win-scholarships-and-grants-state-of-virginia/
BridgesEDU Scholarships 