Virginia's main need-based state grants for public colleges -- the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) and the Virginia Commonwealth Award -- don't have their own applications. You file the FAFSA (or Virginia's VASA application) by your college's financial aid deadline, and the college's financial aid office decides your award from state funds. For community college students, Virginia adds G3, a last-dollar award for high-demand programs. None of these work at private colleges; for those, Virginia's main program is the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant.
VGAP vs. the Commonwealth Award vs. G3
| VGAP | Commonwealth Award | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges | Virginia public 2- and 4-year | Virginia public 2- and 4-year | Virginia's public community colleges |
| Enrollment | Full-time | At least half-time | At least half-time (6 credits) |
| Academic requirement | 2.5 high school GPA; Virginia HS graduate or home school (no GED) | None listed beyond satisfactory progress | High-demand program |
| Need test | Financial need, set by the college | Financial need, set by the college | Income up to 400% of the federal poverty level |
| Maximum | Tuition, required fees, and a book allowance | Up to tuition and required fees | Remaining tuition and fees (last-dollar), plus $2,250 for full-time Pell recipients |
| Application | FAFSA or VASA | FAFSA or VASA | FAFSA or VASA, through the college |
The Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program
VGAP is meant as an incentive for Virginia K-12 students to aim for college, so its rules tie back to high school. To receive it, an undergraduate must, per SCHEV:
- be admitted to a Virginia public two- or four-year college and enroll full-time;
- be a Virginia student (domicile, military-dependent, or tuition-equity status);
- graduate from a Virginia high school with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, or complete Virginia home school with an SAT of 980+ or ACT of 19+ -- GED recipients aren't eligible;
- show financial need as determined by the college, and file the FAFSA or VASA by the college's deadline.
By law, awards are proportional to need: the neediest students receive at least tuition, and the maximum is tuition, required fees, and a book allowance. To renew for up to three more years, you need continuous full-time enrollment, a 2.0 college GPA, continued need, and advancement by one class level each year -- VGAP pays only one year per class level.
The Virginia Commonwealth Award
The Commonwealth Award is the broader backstop. It's appropriated directly to each public college, and the college uses it for need-based grants to Virginia undergraduates enrolled at least half-time, with no high school GPA rule. Awards vary by college, can't exceed tuition and required fees, and renew as long as you keep making satisfactory academic progress and funding allows.
G3: Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back
G3 is for Virginia's community colleges. Per SCHEV, it's a last-dollar award covering the tuition and fees left after federal and state aid, for Virginia residents with income up to 400% of the federal poverty level -- which Virginia's Community Colleges describe as household income of roughly $120,000 or less -- enrolled at least half-time in a degree program in a high-demand area. Full-time Pell Grant recipients can get an extra $2,250. Virginia's Community Colleges group the eligible programs into six fields: education, healthcare, hospitality and culinary arts, information technology, public safety, and skilled trades, manufacturing, and construction.
Undocumented students and VASA
Students eligible for in-state tuition under Virginia's tuition-equity provision who can't file the FAFSA use the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application instead, and SCHEV's program rules for VGAP and the Commonwealth Award accept it in place of the FAFSA.
What this means for you
- The FAFSA deadline is the grant deadline. Since these grants have no separate application, your college's priority date decides whether you're considered -- and those dates range from February 1 to July depending on the school. See every Virginia college's FAFSA deadline.
- If you have a GED, VGAP is out, but the Commonwealth Award and G3 are still options.
- Keep a 2.0 and advance a class level each year to keep VGAP.
- Transferring from a community college with a 3.0? Add the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- For how state deadlines work generally, see why your state's aid deadline isn't the FAFSA's.