Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV); awarded by each Virginia public college
Need-based grant for Virginia high school graduates with at least a 2.5 GPA attending a Virginia public college full-time; the neediest get at least tuition, up to tuition, fees and a book allowance.
- How much
- Varies by need; neediest students receive at least tuition; maximum is tuition, required fees and a book allowance
- Who qualifies
- Virginia domicile (Code of Virginia § 23.1-502), or eligible military dependent (§ 23.1-505) or Tuition Equity student (§ 23.1-505.1). Graduate of a Virginia high school or Virginia home-school completer (no GED); 2.5 cumulative high school GPA (home-schoolers: SAT 980 or ACT 19); full-time at a Virginia public two- or four-year college; financial need.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time FAFSA/VASA by each college's priority deadline (for 2026-27 most were March 1).
- How to apply
- No separate application
- File the FAFSA (or VASA) by your Virginia public college's financial aid deadline
- The college determines eligibility and the award
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (schev.edu), page 2 and page 3
The details
VGAP rewards financially needy Virginia students who finish high school with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Awards vary by college, but students in the neediest category receive at least tuition; the maximum is tuition, required fees and a book allowance. Limited to one year of award per class level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Renewable for up to three more years with continuous full-time enrollment, Virginia domicile, continued need, a 2.0 college GPA, satisfactory academic progress, and advancing a class level each year. Home-school completers need an SAT verbal+math score of at least 980 or an ACT composite of at least 19; GED holders are not eligible.
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.