Virginia’s Tuition Assistance Grant offers FREE Money for College

Eastern Mennonite University

What could be more motivating than an offer of FREE money for college?  It doesn’t sound possible, yet surprisingly few Virginians are aware of the Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program for residents of the Commonwealth attending in-state private nonprofit colleges and universities.

Neither merit- nor need-based, VTAG is a little gift from the state legislature designed to bring down tuition rates for Virginia residents attending private institutions and level the playing field a little with the relatively inexpensive public system. Under the terms of the program, students do NOT have to

• Pay the money back
• Demonstrate financial need
• File any kind of financial statement

University of Richmond

The exact amount of each academic year’s award is determined by both the amount appropriated by the Virginia General Assembly and the total number of eligible applicants. Until all the numbers are added up, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) only provides an estimated dollar value for applicant planning purposes.

According to VTAG, the maximum 2012-13 annual award will be $2,800. Over four years, this translates to $11,200—free money, no strings attached!

Note that graduate students enrolled in eligible degree programs also qualify for tuition assistance grants, which for the 2012-13 academic year will be $1,300.

Application forms are available to download on the SCHEV website. In order to receive the maximum award, a student must submit a completed application to the institution’s financial aid office by July 31st of the award year. Applications submitted after July 31st but no later than December 1st, will be considered for an award only if funds remain available.

Participating institutions include:

• Appalachian School of Law
• Averett University
• Bluefield College
• Bridgewater College
• Christendom College
• Eastern Mennonite University
• Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Emory & Henry College
• Ferrum College
• George Washington University (VA campus only)
• Hampden-Sydney College
• Hampton University
• Hollins University
• Institute for the Psychological Sciences
• Jefferson College of Health Sciences
• Liberty University
• Lynchburg College
• Mary Baldwin College
• Marymount University
• Randolph College
• Randolph-Macon College
• Regent University
• Roanoke College
• Saint Paul's College
• Shenandoah University
• Southern Virginia University
• Sweet Briar College
• University of Richmond
• Virginia Intermont College
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
• Virginia Union University
• Virginia Wesleyan College
• Washington & Lee University

For more information about the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, contact the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Financial Aid Department, at 804.225.2632 or visit the SCHEV website.