A grant is financial aid for which neither work nor repayment is required. The following are the state-funded grant programs available at VWCC.
G3 Program
The G3 program is a tuition assistance program available to students attending a Virginia community college. Eligible students can receive G3 for up to 3 years. The 3-year time period begins the first semester you use G3 and ends 3 years from that semester. There are 3 components to G3 funding.
G3 Tuition
G3 tuition is a last-dollar grant. Eligible students can receive this funding if other gift aid in their award package does not fully cover tuition.
To be eligible for G3 tuition a student must:
- Have applied for federal and/or state financial aid
- Qualify for in-state tuition
- Have a total household income less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits
- Be enrolled in only designated G3 program(s)
G3 Books
Eligible students can receive up to $500 per term to offset the cost of textbooks and supplies.
To be eligible for G3 books and/or tuition a student must:
- Have applied for federal and/or state financial aid
- Qualify for in-state tuition
- Have total family income of less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits
- Be enrolled in only designated G3 program(s)
G3 Incentive Grant
Eligible students may receive an additional grant to help offset the costs of attending college. To be eligible, students must:
- Qualify for in-state tuition
- Have total family income of less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Be enrolled in only designated G3 program(s)
- Be enrolled full-time (12+ credits)
- Complete and submit a FAFSA
- Qualify for maximum Pell grant
Foster Care Tuition Grant Program
The Foster Grant provides tuition and fee support to students who were in foster care, in the custody of the Department of Social Services, or considered a special needs adoption at the time of high school graduation or completion of a GED. To qualify, a student must:
- be a legal resident of Virginia
- be enrolled at least half-time (6-8 credits)
- be in an academic program at least one academic year in length
- complete and submit the FAFSA
- not have been previously enrolled full-time in a postsecondary institution for more than five years
- demonstrate financial need
- not have a prior Bachelor’s degree
Part-time Tuition Assistance Program (PTAP)
PTAP is a state-funded program under which legal residents of Virginia can receive tuition support for 1-11 credit hours. The grant may cover tuition, fees, and books. If your total charges are LESS than the award shown in SIS, your actual award will be adjusted after the drop/add period.
Priority is given to students who have not completed a four-year degree.
Virginia Commonwealth Grant (COMA)
COMA is a state-funded program under which legal residents of Virginia can receive support up to the full amount of their tuition expense. This grant covers tuition and fees only. You must be registered for six or more credits to be eligible for COMA. If you are registered for fewer than six credit hours, please contact the Financial Aid Office to replace the grant with the PTAP (see above), if funds are available.
Priority is given to students who have not completed a four-year degree.
Virginia Community College System Grant (VCCS)
VCCS is a state-funded program under which legal residents of Virginia may receive tuition support and a book allowance if funds are available.
Priority is given to students who have not completed a four-year degree.
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)
VGAP is for first-time freshmen. Money may cover tuition and some book allowance. To qualify, a student must be a dependent, must be enrolled on a full-time basis, and must demonstrate a high school grade point average of at least 2.50. A recipient who maintains full-time status throughout the year and attains a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 can receive a renewal award for the second year of study.
Renewal requirements are:
- Completion of a FAFSA and demonstration of financial need
- Continued enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Continued legal residency in Virginia
- At least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
- Full-time status (at least 12 hours) throughout each semester of the academic year
- Continuous enrollment (not counting summer sessions)
- Remain a dependent student according to current federal regulations
- Advance student level status by completing 30 credit hours of college level coursework within a 12-month timeframe (developmental courses do not count toward the calculation of student level status)
- Example: For a student awarded VGAP beginning with the fall term, the student must complete 30 credits and continue to meet all other VGAP eligibility requirements by the beginning of the next fall term to be eligible for a renewal VGAP award.
- A student who does not complete 30 credit hours within the 12-month timeframe may be reconsidered for VGAP for the term after advancing student level status with the successful completion of 30 credit hours.
- Student level
- Freshman – 1 to 29 credits
- Sophomore – 30+ credits
- Example: For a student awarded VGAP beginning with the fall term, the student must complete 30 credits and continue to meet all other VGAP eligibility requirements by the beginning of the next fall term to be eligible for a renewal VGAP award.
Information and Resources
- Financial Aid Home
- Apply for Financial Aid
- What to Know About Your Aid Award
- Types of Aid
- Summer Financial Aid
- Career Training/Non-Credit Financial Assistance
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Using Financial Aid in the Bookstore
- Financial Aid Forms
- Cost of Attendance
- Special & Unusual Circumstances
- Net Price Calculator
- Policies & Conditions
- Student Consumer Information
Contact Us
finaid@virginiawestern.edu
Chapman Hall C106
855-874-6690
Fax: 540-857-6208
Mailing address:
3094 Colonial Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
Walk-in Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8:00 AM-5:30 PM
Fri: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
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