G3: Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back
Virginia's Community Colleges (VCCS), state-funded; listed by State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
Last-dollar grant that covers remaining tuition, fees and books at Virginia community colleges for in-demand programs, for households up to 400% of the poverty line (about $120,000 for a family of four).
- How much
- Last dollar: remaining tuition, fees and books after other grants; plus up to $2,250 for full-time students eligible for the maximum Pell Grant
- Who qualifies
- Eligible for Virginia in-state tuition; household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level; enrolled at a Virginia public community college in a G3-approved program; at least 6 credits per semester; apply for federal and state aid; satisfactory academic progress.
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
- For early education, healthcare, hospitality & culinary arts students
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time No separate deadline; apply for aid at enrollment each term (FAFSA by the college's priority date).
- How to apply
- Enroll at a Virginia community college in a G3-approved program, complete the FAFSA (or VASA) and any income documentation the college asks for
- The college's financial aid office awards G3 as part of your aid package
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (virginiag3.com), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
G3 pays whatever tuition, fees and a book allowance are left after federal and state grant aid, for students in approved programs in six high-demand fields: early education, healthcare, hospitality and culinary arts, information technology, public safety, and skilled trades/manufacturing/construction. Programs vary by college. Students must take at least 6 credits a semester (or an approved short-term program). Full-time (12+ credits fall/spring, 6 summer) students who qualify for a full Pell Grant can also get a G3 Student Success Incentive Grant for living costs; SCHEV lists it as an additional $2,250. Funding lasts while you stay in the same G3 program: three years to finish an associate degree, with rules for stopping out after a certificate. A high school diploma or GED isn't required by G3 itself.
More money from Virginia
- Virginia Space Grant Undergraduate STEM Research ScholarshipUp to $8,500 per year
- Virginia Space Grant Graduate STEM Research Fellowship$6,000 per year
- Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)Up to $5,250 per year for undergraduates (2026-27 maximum); $5,000 for eligible graduate health-professions students; higher at Hampton and Virginia Union
- Two-Year College Transfer Grant (CTG)Up to $1,000 per year base; plus up to $1,000 STEM-N bonus; plus $1,000 incentive at NSU, ODU, Radford, UVA Wise, VCU and VSU
- Granville P. Meade Scholarship$2,000 per year for four years (most recent cycle)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.