Virginia Commonwealth University participates in several state and federal grant programs. These awards are need-based and do not require repayment.
To be considered for any grant at VCU, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and have the results sent to the VCU Office of Financial Aid. Information provided on the FAFSA should be complete and accurate. Failure to resolve any application-processing problems, or delays in resolving the problems, may prevent students from being considered for a grant.
Grants are not automatically renewed. Students must apply annually and continue to meet eligibility requirements and satisfactory academic progress standards.
Pell is a need-based, undergraduate grant program funded by the federal government. Award amounts vary by expected family contribution (EFC) and enrollment status. Awards are initially offered based on full-year, full-time enrollment and are prorated for students who enroll less than full time.
To be considered for an award, students must:
An eligible student may now receive a full Federal Pell Grant for summer even if they received a full Federal Pell Grant during the fall and spring semesters. Year-round Pell allows students to receive up to 150 percent of a regular grant award over the course of the academic year so that they can continue taking classes in the summer and finish their degrees faster than they would otherwise. With careful planning, Pell Grant recipients may take advantage of this new regulation to earn their degree faster.
Note: The provisions of the new law state that any Pell Grant received will be included in determining the student’s Pell Grant duration of eligibility and Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). To be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds:
SEOG is a need-based, undergraduate grant program funded by the federal government. The award amount is $500 for new students and $1,000 for continuing students.
To be considered, students must meet all the requirements for a Pell Grant and demonstrate exceptional financial need.
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant program provides annual awards up to $4,000 to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who agree to teach full time in high-need subject areas in low-income areas for a minimum of four years, within eight years of graduation.
High-need fields include:
Schools serving low-income students include any private or public elementary or secondary school listed in the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.
To receive a TEACH Grant, students must:
For students who fail to fulfill service requirements, grants are converted to direct unsubsidized Stafford loans with interest accrued from the award date.
The Virginia Commonwealth Award is a need-based undergraduate grant program for Virginia residents, funded by the state government. Award amounts range from $2,400 to $5,200 per academic year.
To be automatically considered for an award, students must:
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program, or VGAP, is a need- and merit-based undergraduate grant program for Virginia residents funded by the state government. Award amounts are based on full-year, full-time enrollment and range from $4,800 to $10,406.
To be automatically considered for an award, students must:
Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years provided that the student:
Students who fail to meet the criterial for VGAP renewal will lose eligibility indefinitely, but can be considered for other state grant aid programs for which they may qualify.
Students who complete their associate degree at a Virginia two-year public college and transfer to VCU may receive the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
The grant provides $1,000 for all eligible students, with an extra $1,000 for students who pursue undergraduate work in engineering, mathematics, technology, nursing, teaching or science. An additional $1,000 is available to VCU students who advance to the next class level, limited to one award at junior level and one at senior level.
To be eligible for the award, students must:
Students who attended college prior to fall 2007 are not eligible for the transfer grant.
VCU reviews final academic transcripts to determine eligibility. In some instances, eligibility will not be established until after the semester is in session.
The grant is limited to a maximum of three years.
The Virginia Foster Care Tuition Grant Award provides mandatory fee assistance to students who must:
A foster child is defined for this program as one who was in foster care at the time they received their high school diploma or general education diploma (GED); in the custody of a social service agency or a special needs adoption at the time they received their high school diploma or GED; or was formerly in foster care when turning 18 years old and subsequently received a high school diploma or GED.
The actual award will vary based upon the types of financial aid a student may receive.
The VCU Office of Financial Aid will review your FAFSA results to consider you for this award program. We will ask you to document your circumstances to verify your award eligibility. If you do not receive an update to your eServices account within 30 days of your FAFSA submission, please reach out to the VCU Office of Financial Aid to check on your eligibility status for this program.