STATE OF VIRGINIA FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEVA)

101 N. 14TH St

James Monroe Bldg.

Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: (804)225-2600

Fax: (804)225-2604

www.schev.edu

Because of the many different programs available you must go to the website for ALL the information.

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Virginia.

Academic Common Market

In-State Tuition for Select Out-of-State Programs

ACM OVERVIEW

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the state higher education agencies of the participating states – Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia – administer the Academic Common Market (ACM) program. The program operates on the premise that if public institutions (no private institutions can participate) in a student’s home state do not offer a degree program (undergraduate or graduate) that a student intends on pursuing, then he/she may attend a participating out-of-state institution offering the degree of interest and be granted a waiver of out-of-state tuition charges. This serves as a cost-saving measure for both parents and students as in-state tuition rates are lower than out-of-state rates. It is also a savings to the Commonwealth, as these programs do not have to be duplicated here in Virginia. Numerous undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available to Virginia residents.

Please go to website for all the information.

Child Day Care Provider Scholarship Program

The Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program is a tuition assistance program offering current and future child care providers a foundation in the care and development of children. The program, funded through Virginia’s share of the federal Child Care and Development Fund, provides assistance for providers to attend courses at Virginia institutions of higher learning.

Courses required for a certificate or degree in the early childhood education field may be approved for payment through the VCCPSP, as funding allows. The maximum benefits allowable for the Scholarship Program include either eight classes or a maximum lifetime award of $2,689.00, whichever comes first. The scholarship award pays the cost of tuition and the technology fee for up to two courses per semester. Any additional fees for travel or expenses, such as books and activity fees, are the responsibility of the student.

The College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP)

The College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP) is a statewide need-based undergraduate grant program established in 1973 to assist students with extreme financial need in Virginia’s public and participating private colleges and universities. The Commonwealth combines state appropriations with the Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) to fund the program.

Virginia Commonwealth Award Program

The purpose of the Virginia Commonwealth Award is to assist undergraduate students with financial need and graduate students to pay part of their college costs. The funds are appropriated directly to each state-supported institution. Funds may be used for need-based grants to Virginia resident undergraduates or for grants or assistantships to graduate students (both in-state and out-of-state). The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards.

The Tuition Grant Program for Foster Care and Special Needs Adoption Recipients

Tuition grants are available for foster youth, former foster youth, and special needs adoptees who have a high school diploma or GED.

What is the program?
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..

For more information
Contact your local Department of Social Services office or the financial aid office of your local community college. Visit these websites for more information:

• http://www.dss.virginia.gov/

Virginia Space Grant Consortium

In 1988, Congress enacted the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program to address scientific and technological workforce needs and the national decline in scholastic achievement, especially in math and science. NASA’s Space Grant funds education, research, and public service programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico through a network of 52 university-based Space Grant Consortia with over 800 participating affiliates. The Space Grant Consortia is united by the common goal of developing the educational and economic benefits of aerospace research and exploration.

A major goal of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) is to help produce the engineers and scientists of the future. While opportunities for careers in aerospace have expanded, the number of talented students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has declined. To encourage talented individuals to pursue aerospace-related fields of study, the VSGC has established four Scholarship and Fellowship programs.

The VSGC Scholarship and Fellowship Program annually awards approximately $300,000 to students pursuing higher education at Virginia Space Grant universities (College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech) and Virginia Community Colleges . More information about each Scholarship program and a link to apply are below. Information about Graduate STEM Research Fellowship opportunities can be viewed here.

Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program (VTSLP)

The primary purpose of the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program (VTSLP) is to provide financial support to students who are preparing to teach in one of Virginia’s critical shortage teaching areas. The critical shortage teaching areas are determined annually through the Supply and Demand Survey of Administrative and Instructional Personnel, distributed to every school division in Virginia by the Department of Education. Shortages in specific subjectareas are derived from the top 10 academic disciplines identified by the survey as shortage fields. See Educator Workforce Data & Reports for current critical shortage area reports.

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program

The purpose of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program (VMSDEP) is to provide eligible students enrolled in a Virginia public college or university with certain education benefits in acknowledgement of the military service and sacrifice of their military parent or spouse.

College Scholarship Assistance Program

The College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP) is a statewide need-based undergraduate grant program established in 1973 to assist students with extreme financial need in Virginia’s public and participating private colleges and universities.

Admission to Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL)

The VWIL Supplemental Application: Online form orDownloadable PDF | Tuition/Fees | Deadlines

Admission to VWIL is competitive. The components reviewed by VWIL admissions are the same as for theResidential College for Women. You must file a supplemental application (Online | Downloadable PDF). There is no additional fee.

Application to VWIL may be made when a student applies to Mary Baldwin College or at any time after she has been accepted to Mary Baldwin. The admissions process occurs in two steps. The prospective cadet applies to and is accepted by Mary Baldwin College. Her VWIL supplemental application is then forwarded with her Mary Baldwin College application and letter of acceptance to the VWIL committee on admissions.

Senior Citizens Tuition Waiver

This program provides tuition waivers for credit courses for Virginia residents aged 60 and older who have not exceeded income guidelines.

Tuition Assistance Grant Program

Established in 1972, the Tuition Assistance Grant Program (VTAG) is designed to assist Virginia residents who attend accredited private, non-profit colleges and universities in Virginia for other than religious training or theological education.

While this document does not cover all of the eligibility requirements, the basic criteria are:

1. Be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Domicile Guidelines and the Code of Virginia §23-7.4;
2. Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student; and
3. Be enrolled at an eligible institution pursuing an eligible degree that is not in religious training or theological education.

Eligible Institutions

Beginning fall 2009, eligible graduate programs include only those in a health related professional program as designated by the 51 series of programs under the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs. Awards

The award amount is based on the number of eligible students and the amount of funds appropriated by the General Assembly

Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program

General Description and Purpose

The purpose of the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) is to provide an incentive to financially needy students now attending elementary and secondary school in Virginia to raise their expectations and their academic performance and to consider higher education an achievable objective in their future. The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards.

Lee-Jackson Foundation Scholarships

The Lee-Jackson Foundation of Charlottesville was founded in 1953 by the late Jay W. Johns, a successful Pennsylvania industrialist transplanted to Virginia, who became a great admirer of Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. He believed that both these Americans possessed distinguished traits of character that should be emulated by future generations.

Since both these Virginians were involved in education, the Foundation honors them by working to increase educational opportunities for Virginia’s youth. The Foundation has traditionally focused on scholarships as the best vehicle to encourage high school students to continue their education, and sponsors an annual essay competition to make its awards. Scholarships are given for outstanding essays which demonstrate an appreciation of the exemplary character and soldierly virtues of Generals Lee and Jackson. Essays are judged with emphasis on historical accuracy, quality of research, and clarity of written expression.

For more information, please contact the Foundation’s Administrator, Stephanie Leech at:

The Lee-Jackson Foundation
P.O. Box 8121
Charlottesville, VA 22906
leejacksonfoundation@yahoo.com

Virginia Nurse Educator Scholarship Program

Scholarships will be provided to full/part-time graduate nursing students who are accepted to or enrolled in a master’s or doctoral level nursing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of nursing faculty by providing master’s/doctoral students with financial support. Additionally, this program will assist Virginia nursing schools to recruit and retain new nursing faculty, which enables the schools to increase enrollment.

This fund will provide scholarship assistance to full-time master’s or doctoral nursing students who are accepted to or enrolled in a nursing teaching program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of future nursing faculty by providing financial support.Additionally, this program will assist Virginia nursing schools in recruiting and retaining new nursing faculty. Recipients of these scholarships will not have to repay their scholarship as long as they are employed as a teaching faculty member at a nursing school in Virginia.

Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship Program for Licensed Practical Nurses

To be considered for a Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

· Residency in Virginia for at least one year;

· Acceptance or enrollment as a full-time or part-time student in a practical school of nursing in the state of Virginia; and

· Have submitted a completed application form and a recommendation from the Program Director regarding
scholastic attainment and financial need prior to June 30.

Failure to comply with any of the above will cause the applicant to be ineligible for a Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship. Applicants will be evaluated and ranked by the scholarship committee and the most qualified applicants will be awarded the scholarships.

Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship Program for Registered Nurses

Conditions of Scholarships

It is important that all applicants fully understand the conditions of accepting a Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship. These awards are not gifts. Scholarship recipients must agree to engage in full time nursing in Virginia for one month for every $100 received. Therefore, if a student received $1,200 in scholarship awards, he/she must repay that amount by working continuously in Virginia for 12 months. The award recipient has 60 days from the date of graduation to obtain his/her license. Full time employment must begin within 90 days of the recipient’s licensure date. Voluntary military service, even if stationed in Virginia, cannot be used to repay scholarship awards.

Applications and guidelines are available online from May 1 to June 30 every year. Applications must be typed, printed and mailed (with original signatures) to the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy.

Virginia Department of Health
Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy
ATTN: Nursing Scholarship
109 Governor St., Suite 1016 East
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship

To be considered for a Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

Residency in Virginia for at least one year.

Acceptance or enrollment as a full time student in a nurse practitioner/nurse midwifery program in the State of Virginia or a nurse midwifery program in a nearby state.

Demonstration of a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in graduate and/or undergraduate courses.

Have submitted a completed application form, and official grade transcript of graduate and/or undergraduate courses, and a statement of intent to practice as a nurse practitioner/nurse midwife in an undeserved area of Virginia following graduation.

Submission of two reference letters.

Submission of all materials to the Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy prior to the established deadline.

Failure to comply with any of the above will cause the applicant to be ineligible for a nurse practitioner/nurse midwife scholarship. Applicants will be graded and ranked by the scholarship committee, and the most qualified candidates will be awarded the scholarships.

Virginia Part-Time Assistance Program

The purpose of the Virginia Part-Time Assistance Program is to assist undergraduate, part-time students with financial need to pay part of their college costs. The funds are appropriated directly to each of Virginia’s community colleges. Funds may be used for need-based grants to Virginia resident undergraduates enrolled part-time.

Application Process

The application and awards process are administered by the financial aid office at each of Virginia’s community colleges. Contact the financial aid office at the community college you plan to attend for application procedures and deadlines.

Granville P. Meade Scholarship

The Granville P. Meade Scholarship provides financial assistance to students who have achieved academically, but who are financially unable to attend college. The Granville P. Meade fund provides scholarship awards to worthy and financially disadvantaged Virginia high school seniors to attend one of Virginia’s public or private colleges or universities.

Principals of all public and nonpublic senior high schools are requested to assist in making students aware of the scholarship opportunity. In the past year, each scholarship was in the amount of ,000 per year for four years, provided the student continues to meet the scholarship requirements.

Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program

Eligible student must:

• Be a first-time entering freshman no earlier than fall 2007

• Be an undergraduate in-state student

• Meet selective service requirements

• Have received an Associate’s degree at a Virginia two-year public institution

• Have cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for the Associate’s degree

• Enroll full-time into a Virginia four-year public or Virginia four-year private nonprofit college or university by the fall following completion of Associate’s degree

• Enroll into a degree program not for religious training or theological education

• Have applied for financial aid by completing the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the four-year institution’s deadline

• Have financial need: defined as a federally calculated EFC of 8,000, or less

Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)

The purpose of the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) is to provide an incentive to financially needy students now attending elementary and secondary school in Virginia to raise their expectations and their academic performance and to consider higher education an achievable objective in their future. The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards.

Engineer Scholarship Program

The Engineer Scholarship Program at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) offers civil engineering students the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world work experience while earning scholarship money to assist with educational expenses.

Last Dollar

This program awards grants based on need to minority undergraduate students who are Virginia residents and who are enrolled for the first time in a public college or university in Virginia. The amount of the grant ranges from $400 to the cost of full-time tuition and fees.

Medical Scholarship Program

This program provides funds to medical students studying to become primary care physicians who agree to practice in a medically underserved area or become employed with the commonwealth of Virginia in an approved department. The award amount is ,000 per year and the required repayment period is one year of service for each year of scholarship receipt. Participating institutions include: Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, East Tennessee State University School of Medicine and Pikeville College in Kentucky. For more information, call the Department of Health at (804) 371-4090.

Soil Scientist Program

This program awards tuition and required fees for soil science students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Recipients must be Virginia residents and agree to work one year for each year the scholarship is awarded. For more information, call the Department of Agronomy, Virginia Tech, (540) 231-6300

Virginia Dental Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program

The Virginia Dental Scholarship annually awards scholarships equal to the amount of one year of in-state tuition and mandatory fees at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Preference for this program is given to Virginia residents from an underserved part of the state. The Virginia Dental Loan Repayment Program awards range from $10,508 to $15,204. In order to be eligible for this award, the recipient must meet certain requirements, including graduation from an accredited dental school in the U.S. and possessing a valid license to practice dentistry in Virginia. For both programs, recipients agree to work in the area of need or in a designated state facility for one year per every year that the scholarship is awarded. For more information, contact the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Heath at P.O. Box 2448, Richmond, VA 23218 , or call (804) 864-7824. Information may also be obtained by visiting the Division of Dental Health Web site at www.vahealth.org/dental