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Types of Federal & State Aid Available

  • FEDERAL PELL Grant:
    The Pell Grant is a grant entitlement program, which pays applicants who meet program eligibility criteria.
  • FEDERAL SEOG:
    The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a grant program that is awarded to the "most needy" students.  There are limited SEOG funds.  Students should meet the March 15 priority application deadline to ensure consideration. 
  • FEDERAL Work-Study:
    The Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) is an award for students with a financial need to earn money towards educational expenses.  It does not guarantee a job. Work-study employees are assigned an average of 15-20 hours of work per week.  All new work-study employees will need to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form and provide an acceptable form of identification before beginning work.
  • COMA Grant:
    The Commonwealth Award (COMA) Grant is a state grant with an amount that ranges depending on the student's needs. Must be enrolled at least 6 credits a semester in order to be eligible.
  • PTAP Grant:
    The Part-time Tuition Assistance Program (PTAP) Grant is a state program based on need and awarded to eligible students who are enrolled for 1 to 8 credits a semester (excluding any Activity Fees).
  • G3 - GET A SKILL, GET A JOB, GET AHEAD:
    G3 is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state financial aid and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. G3 can be used for designated programs, such as programs in the STEM or healthcare field. Click here for more information. 
  • FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN:
    All Direct Loans are either subsidized (the government pays the interest while you’re in school) or unsubsidized (you pay all the interest, with the option of payments deferred until after graduation).  Students enrolled for a minimum of six semester credit hours are allowed to borrow varying amounts based on Dependent/Independent status and class level*.
  • FEDERAL PLUS LOAN:
    The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program enables parents of dependent students to borrow money to cover any costs not already covered by financial aid, up to the full cost of attendance. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of six semester credit hours.

*For Federal Stafford Loans incoming transfer students are classified as freshmen until their transcripts are reviewed.  Students are considered Freshman level if fewer than 30 credit hours have been completed.  For more than 30 credit hours (excluding developmental courses) students are classified as Sophomore level.

CVCC does not offer private loans. We encourage students to borrow as little as possible in the student loans.

More About Scholarships

From Local to National Scholarships

The CVCC Educational Foundation grants scholarships to hundreds of students each year. Additionally, there are online scholarship searches to help you find money to assist in your educational goals. Regardless of the type of scholarship, make sure you have already completed the FAFSA. 

Scholarship Searches 

We offer these other sites for informational purposes only and hope you find them useful. Please be aware that the information found at links outside of the CVCC website are beyond our control (we cannot guarantee accuracy). In the wide world of financial aid, information can change at any time. 

Fastweb is the Internet’s first, largest and fastest free scholarship search service. Search more than 1.5 million scholarship opportunities online. 

This guide is designed as a starting point. With it, you will be able to find and apply for more applicable scholarships—and hopefully sidestep many common scholarship pitfalls. 

Scholarships.com offers you a quick, easy and free college scholarship search to save you hours sorting through the over 3.7 million scholarships in its database. 

Scholarship Scams 

This federal website provides valuable information to protect students in search of scholarship dollars. Part of the mission of the Federal Trade Commission is “to enhance the smooth operation of the marketplace by eliminating acts or practices that are unfair or deceptive. In general, the Commission’s efforts are directed toward stopping actions that threaten consumers’ opportunities to exercise informed choice.”