Chapman Hall, Room 106
The Financial Aid Office offers expertise in
completing the FAFSA form and answers
general questions on the process. Information
on qualifications and eligibility for all types of
financial aid can be found on the Virginia Western
Financial Aid Office website.
There are many types of financial aid, including grants and scholarships, work-study, and loans. Both private and public funds are available. The federal government has both grant and loan programs. The Federal Student Aid website provides detailed information and acts as a starting point for receiving this aid.
Grants are awarded based on financial need and do NOT have to be repaid upon successful completion of each semester. Grants are funded by both the state and federal governments. In addition to financial need, students must often maintain certain academic criteria, such as fulltime status and good academic standing.
Scholarships are educational gifts that generally do not need to be repaid. A wide variety of organizations award scholarships and educational gifts, and each has a different set of criteria for application and award.
Federal Work-Study is a program that provides part-time employment opportunities to eligible students to help meet the cost of education. Based on the results of the FAFSA, students are awarded an amount that may be earned throughout a semester.
A loan is borrowed money that must be repaid, usually with interest. There are several types of federal and private student loans.
Any potential student who wishes to apply for
financial aid (including many scholarships) must
submit a completed Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal
Student Aid Programs for each academic year. A FAFSA can be submitted as early as January 1
each year, and primary consideration for aid is
given to students whose applications are received
and processed by the Priority Date published
on the Financial Aid website. The FAFSA can
be submitted directly over the Internet. Most
students use this option. However, a paper
application can be obtained by calling
1-800-4-FED-AID. To begin an online FAFSA, visit
the website http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Fishburn Hall, Room 214
The Virginia Western Community College
Educational Foundation, Inc. offers scholarships
to Virginia Western students based on academic
achievement and financial need. Community
citizens, companies, and organizations generously
provide the money to fund more than 100
separate scholarships annually. The Educational
Foundation also administers the Community
College Access Program (CCAP) for residents of
Franklin County, Salem City and Roanoke City.
The scholarship application forms and detailed information about available scholarships are available at the Educational Foundation website.
Numerous scholarships are available each year from sponsors outside the college. Each scholarship will have its own application form, some of which can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office in Chapman Hall.
Chapman Hall, Room 106
The Veterans Affairs Office assists students in
applying for VA benefits, furthers the process
of certifying eligibility, and maintains accurate
enrollment and student status records. All veteran
students receiving educational benefits must
be enrolled in an official curriculum leading to a
diploma, certificate, or degree.
