The purpose of the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) is to provide an incentive to financially needy students now attending elementary and secondary school in Virginia

/Home/Student Loan Information by State/Virginia Student Loans

Fact Sheet: Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program

General Description and Purpose

The purpose of the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) is to provide an incentive to financially needy students now attending elementary and secondary school in Virginia to raise their expectations and their academic performance and to consider higher education an achievable objective in their future. The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards.


Application Process

Contact the financial aid office of the college or university you plan to attend for application process and deadlines.



Eligibility

In order to be eligible for an award, a student must:
Be admitted into a Virginia public two or four year college or university;
Be enrolled full-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program;
Be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Code of Virginia §23-7.4;
Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the U.S.;
Demonstrate financial need as determined by the institution;
Graduate from a Virginia high school (students who obtain a GED or complete home schooling are not eligible);
Have at least a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent); and
Be classified as a dependent student for federal financial aid purposes.

Awards

The actual awards will vary by institution; however, those students found to be in the neediest category will receive awards of at least tuition. The maximum award is the cost of tuition, required fees, and a book allowance.

Renewal

Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years provided that the student:

Maintain continuous full-time enrollment;
Maintains domiciliary residency in Virginia;
Demonstrates continued financial need;
Maintains at least a college grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent; and
Maintains the satisfactory academic progress standards of the institution for federal student aid programs.
This fact sheet is produced by the SCHEV to provide a general overview of the program