Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program (VTSLP)
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)
Up to $10,000 a year for future teachers in Virginia's top-ten critical shortage areas; forgiven by teaching two years in a Virginia public school, repaid otherwise.
- How much
- Up to $10,000 per academic year (full-time; prorated part-time)
- Who qualifies
- Enrolled in an approved teacher education program at a Virginia four-year public or private institution in a top-ten critical shortage discipline; nominated by the institution; not a previous VTSLP recipient. Service: two years of full-time teaching in Virginia public schools (critical shortage area, 50%+ free/reduced lunch school, or division shortage area).
- For undergrads, grad students
- For education (critical teacher shortage areas) students
- When to apply
- Check dates Set by each institution's nomination process; VDOE doesn't publish a statewide date.
- How to apply
- Ask your Virginia teacher-education program to nominate you
- Submit the VTSLP application to the program's dean/chair/director, who sends it to VDOE
- If selected, sign and notarize the promissory note
- What you'll need
- state application + school nomination + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (doe.virginia.gov) and page 2
The details
For teacher candidates (including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions) enrolled full- or part-time in an approved teacher education program at an accredited Virginia public or private four-year institution, in one of the top ten critical teacher shortage disciplines set each year. Requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 and nomination by the institution. Up to $10,000 per academic year for full-time students, prorated for part-time. Recipients sign a notarized promissory note and must teach full-time in Virginia public schools for at least two years, starting the first full year after becoming eligible for a renewable license, in a critical shortage discipline, a school with 50%+ free/reduced lunch, or a division-designated shortage area. One year of teaching forgives half. Otherwise it must be repaid. Only one VTSLP award per person.
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.