Grants

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. Eligibility is primarily based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Student Aid Report (SAR), but is also affected by enrollment status. A minimum of 12 credit hours each semester is required to receive full eligibility, with pro-rated awards going to students with less than 12 credit hours. Eligible students will be awarded once the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any required documentation have been received.

What is the G3 Program?

G3 is the Governor’s proposed investment in making community college more affordable for eligible low-income and middle-income Virginians who enroll in certain programs that lead to jobs in high-demand fields.

Who is eligible for the G3 Program?

G3 is a last-dollar program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state tuition and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. Eligible students may enroll in programs leading to FastForward short-term credentials, certificates, or associate degrees.

A student enrolling in a certificate or degree program must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for the program. G3 funds would make up the difference between what financial aid pays for and the cost of tuition, fees, and books for the program.

To be eligible for G3, an applicant must:

• Students must complete the FAFSA, be deemed Title IV eligible, and have federal and state aid eligibility determined
• Be eligible for Virginia in-state tuition.
• As proposed in the Governor’s budget, receive a total household income less than or equal to four hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This is roughly an income of $100,000 for a family of four.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a Virginia public community college and in an approved G3 program. Students can only be placed in approved G3 programs.  Dual placement in non-G3 programs will not be permitted
• Be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester.
• DACA students and dual enrollment students are not eligible.
• Students must be making satisfactory academic progress. 
• To incentivize full-time enrollment, the G3 Program will provide additional financial assistance to students who qualify for full Federal Pell Grants and enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours in fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours in summer). This additional assistance is intended to reduce the number of part-time hours a student has to work so that he or she can spend more time studying.
• Students with bachelor’s or higher degrees will be eligible for G3 but not the SSIG.

What are the eligible programs?

The eligible programs fall into five targeted career areas that are in high demand in Virginia: Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Skilled Trades, Early Childhood Education, and Public Safety.

Virginia’s community colleges have partnered with employers to transform eligible programs to put skills first and allow students to earn completion certificates as they move through their training. This means that a student who has to stop out after earning a certificate will still have a credential with immediate value in the labor market. Because the certificate is part of an associate degree, the student can get a job and return later to continue on the pathway to an associate degree.

Does a student have to enroll full-time?

The G3 Program will be available for full- and part-time students. To be eligible, a student must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or a FastForward program. However, the goal of G3 is to accelerate program completion and employment in a high-demand occupation.

What does G3 pay for?

Awards will be up to tuition, fees, and a book allowance minus any grant aid. This includes all forms of federal, state, and institutional grants in addition to tuition waivers, Chapter 33, and employer tuition reimbursement. The award for books cannot exceed $500 per term for full-time attendance and will be prorated to $375 for three quarter time and $250 for half-time.    

Learn more about the G3 program.

FSEOG is for undergraduate Federal Pell Grant recipients with exceptional financial need (i.e., students with the lowest EFCs). Eligible students will be awarded once the FAFSA and any required documentation have been received on a first-come, first-served basis until funds have been exhausted.

COMA is a state-funded grant that provides assistance to undergraduate Virginia residents who demonstrate financial need. Award amounts cannot exceed tuition and fees per academic year. A minimum of 6 credit hours is required each semester in order to receive COMA.

VGAP awards range from $500 up to tuition, fees and books available to undergraduate Virginia residents who graduated from high school with at least a 2.5 grade point average.

PTAP is a state-funded grant, which provides assistance to undergraduate Virginia residents who demonstrate financial need. Award amounts cannot exceed tuition and fees per academic year. A minimum of 1 credit hour and a maximum of 8 credit hours are required each semester in order to receive PTAP. This grant may not be awarded as part of the initial aid package. It may be awarded during the repackaging process that takes place after the end of the add/drop period where aid is based on actual enrollment.

The VCCS Grant provides assistance to Virginia residents at Virginia’s Community Colleges who demonstrate financial need. Award amounts cannot exceed tuition, fees, and books per academic year. This grant may not be awarded as part of the initial aid package. It may be awarded during the repackaging process that takes place after the end of the add/drop period where aid is based on actual enrollment.

The Tuition Grant program provides tuition and fees at any Virginia community college for high school graduates or general education development (GED) completers in foster care, in the custody of a social services agency, or considered a special needs adoption. A minimum of 6 credit hours is required and financial need must be demonstrated. The grant covers tuition and fees only for students not already receiving sufficient federal and state grant eligibility to cover those expenses. Students who would like to be considered for this grant should send proof of their foster care or special needs adoptee status to the Financial Aid Office.