🎓 Virginia State Aid: The Real Grants, Hidden Forms, and How to Qualify
Virginia does offer real help — but the system isn’t built to make it obvious. Some programs go to families with financial need. One quietly helps private college students. And none of it shows up unless you know the deadlines.
⚠️ Most Virginia grants require the FAFSA — but one key program (VTAG) has a separate form due by July 31. Don’t miss that deadline if your kid is heading to a private college in-state.
🔎 Step 1: Know What Type of Aid Your Kid Might Qualify For
Virginia offers both need-based and non-need-based aid — depending on the college. Public schools use FAFSA for most awards. Private colleges may also require a special state form (see below).
📝 Step 2: File the FAFSA (and Maybe Another Form)
The FAFSA is required for all need-based aid — including the Virginia Commonwealth Award, VGAP, and Transfer Grant. One program (VTAG) uses its own form, due July 31.
Even if you think you won’t qualify for need-based aid, you should still file. It opens the door to institutional money and required verification for many scholarships.
💸 Step 3: Know the Main Programs
| Grant Name |
Who Gets It | Award Amount | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Virginia Commonwealth Award | Need-based aid for students at public colleges | Varies by school | File FAFSA |
| 🎓 VGAP (Virginia Guaranteed Assistance) | First-time freshmen w/ 2.5+ GPA & financial need | Varies by school; renewable | FAFSA + full-time VA public college |
| 🏫 VTAG (Tuition Assistance Grant) | Students attending private, nonprofit VA colleges | Up to $5,000/year | Submit VTAG form to school by July 31 |
| 🔁 Two-Year College Transfer Grant | VA community college grads transferring to 4-year | $1,000–$3,000/year | FAFSA + apply through 4-year school |
| ❤️ Foster Care Tuition Grant | Students adopted through foster care or who aged out | Covers full tuition/fees at public colleges | FAFSA + contact school’s aid office |
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t assume FAFSA covers everything. The VTAG grant — worth up to $5,000 — needs its own form submitted directly to the school. Mark your calendar: July 31.
📍 Step 4: Know Your Deadlines
- FAFSA Priority Date: Varies by college — aim for February–March
- VTAG Application Deadline: July 31 (submit to college aid office)
- Separate Application Needed? Yes — for VTAG only
- Applies to: In-state residents attending eligible VA colleges
📈 Step 5: Stack the Pieces
Virginia grants can be combined with Pell, work-study, and school-specific scholarships. If your kid is transferring from community college, don’t miss the extra $1,000+ available through the Transfer Grant.
🧰 Step 6: Tools for Parents
Overwhelmed? Don’t wing this alone. The Starter Kit includes:
- ✔️ FAFSA + scholarship checklists by grade
- ✔️ A brag sheet builder for recommendation letters
- ✔️ Tips for stacking state, federal, and school aid
- ✔️ Questions to ask your kid’s counselor about state + college aid
🎒 Download it here: College Ready Parent Starter Kit
🏫 Virginia Universities
We’ll break these down next — because sometimes your kid’s best scholarship is hiding at the college nobody told you to look at.
- 🕓 Christopher Newport University
- 🕓 George Mason University
- 🕓 James Madison University
- 🕓 Longwood University
- 🕓 Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- 🕓 Radford University
- 🕓 University of Mary Washington
- University of Virginia
- 🕓 Virginia Commonwealth University
- 🕓 Virginia Military Institute
- 🕓 Virginia State University
- Virginia Tech
- 🕓 William & Mary