I'm from Virginia and am trying to map out my college finances. Can anyone share details about the grants and scholarships offered in Virginia that could help with my college journey?
I can share some information about grants and scholarships available to Virginia students. Here are a few to consider:
1. Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP): This program offers financial aid to students who are enrolled in a Virginia state college or university full-time. Depending on the cost of the institution and your financial requirements, this grant could cover close to a full ride.
2. Commonwealth Award: This is another form of state aid that's based on financial need rather than academic merit. It's available to Virginia residents who are enrolled at least half-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program.
3. Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program (CTG): This grant assists students transferring from a two-year Virginia community college to a four-year institution in Virginia. The award amount can increase if you're studying Science, Teaching, Engineering, Math (STEM) or a related field.
4. Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program (VTAG): This grant is for Virginia residents studying full-time at a private, non-profit college or university within the state. The award amount varies each year.
Remember to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible to be considered for these and other financial aid opportunities. Most state-based aid programs use information from the FAFSA to determine eligibility.
Also, you might want to check out the College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile, which many colleges, especially private ones, use to distribute their own financial aid funds.
Aside from these college-specific and state-based grants or scholarships, there are also countless third-party scholarships out there. Check out resources like Appily, FastWeb, and Scholarship.com which have extensive databases of available scholarships.
Lastly, many colleges and universities offer institutional aid based on merit, need, or both. When considering your college choices, be sure to look into the scholarships they offer and what you need to do to apply.
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