Virginia Graduate Commonwealth Award
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV); awarded by each Virginia public university
State-funded grants or assistantships for full-time graduate students at Virginia public universities; the university sets the terms and amount.
- How much
- Varies; set by the university
- Who qualifies
- Full-time in an approved graduate degree program at a participating Virginia public college or university; in-state and out-of-state students both eligible; other requirements set by the institution.
- For grad students
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
- When to apply
- Check dates Set by each university.
- How to apply
- No separate state application
- Ask your graduate program or the university's financial aid office how it awards Graduate Commonwealth Awards (often through assistantships or departmental awards)
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (schev.edu) and page 2
The details
Part of the Virginia Commonwealth Award appropriation. Public universities may use it for grants or assistantships to graduate students, both in-state and out-of-state. The student must be enrolled full-time in an approved graduate degree program at a participating Virginia public college or university and meet the requirements the granting institution sets. Awards vary by institution and available funding. Renewable pending funds with satisfactory academic progress and continued institutional eligibility.
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.