Virginia has a few programs that will help pay for college. They all require that you be a resident of Virginia and some have very specific eligibility requirements also. Please contact the program directly for additional information.

Breaking News - UVA announces that it will start the most ambitious financial aid program ever. A new program at the University of Virginia called Access UVA will be put in place next year that will help keep higher education affordable for all students who qualify for UVa, regardless of economic circumstances. It has been deemed the most ambitious financial aid program in the public education system and will be implemented next fall. Read more here.

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) - VTAG is a non need-based grant for Virginia residents attending a participating Virginia private college or
university. Funds for this grant have been appropriated by the state legislature since 1973. While the maximum award
is authorized each biennium, the amount is not guaranteed and can vary annually. The exact amount of each academic
year’s award is determined by the available funding and the total number of eligible applicants. If funding is
insufficient to fully award all students, it is possible that the spring award will be adjusted and that some students will
receive no award. The college financial aid office will have the most current information about the expected maximum
award. Click here for the application.

Virginia Regional Contract Program - This arrangement among selected states provides tuition assistance for Virginia residents. A student must be a domiciliary
resident of Virginia to participate in the Regional Contract Program. SCHEV verifies student eligibility and the institution makes the
award decisions. It should be noted that certification as a resident of Virginia only confirms eligibility for assistance under the
programs. Eligibility does not guarantee a contract seat or determine the amount of an award, if any. The program is available to
students who study:
· Library Science: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University (Master’s degree in
Library Science only)
· Optometry: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry, and University of Alabama- Birmingham
· Forensic Science: George Washington University (Master’s degree in Forensic Science only)
· Paper, Pulp, and Technology: North Carolina State University (Juniors and Seniors only). Click here for the application.

The Eastern Shore Tuition Assistance Program (ESTAP) - Established in 1978 by the Virginia General Assembly, provides assistance
to residents of Northampton and Accomack Counties who elect to complete their junior and senior years of college study as commuting
students at Salisbury State University or the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. ESTAP awards are intended to help defray the
differential costs between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Click here for the application.