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Resources of Undergraduates

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)

What is it?
A grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to all U.S. Citizens who are residents of Virginia and attending private institutions in the Commonwealth. Divinity (Theology), Religious Studies, and joint degree with Divinity students are not eligible for the award.

What are the qualifications?
The student must be a domiciliary resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for at least 12 months prior to enrollment. He/she must have taken steps which show an intent to stay in Virginia indefinitely. These steps include (but are not limited to) obtaining a driver's license, paying state taxes, registering to vote in Virginia, and having his/her car registered in the Commonwealth. A student cannot have begun classes within the first year of moving to Virginia. Doing so makes the student ineligible for the award.


How do I get the grant?
Students need to obtain an application online and mail or deliver it to the Central Financial Aid Office by July 31 to be eligible for the grant for the upcoming academic year. Applications received after July 31, but not later than December 1, may receive a partial award depending on the State's funding. Recommended submission date is by June 1, prior to the start of the fall semester.

Click here to print the application. (Adobe Reader Required)

Applicants are categorized by student type & application submission date:

  • Category 1: Returning students who are eligible for fall and spring terms and received a TAG award in the previous fiscal year.
  • Category 2: New students to the institution's TAG program who are eligible for the fall and spring terms and who apply for the TAG program by July 31. This category includes new freshmen, transfer students, new graduate or professional students, and eligible returning students who did not receive a TAG award in the previous fiscal year. 
  • Category 3: New students to the TAG program who are eligible for the fall and spring term awards and who apply between August 1 and September 14. Students applying after September 14 are not eligible for fall awards regardless of enrollment status.  (may not be funded by state)
  • Category 4: All students eligible for spring term awards only and who apply by December 1. (may not be funded by state)

Students in Categories 1 and 2 will be funded for the Fall and Spring terms if the student meets all eligibility criteria.

Category 3 and 4 students will be funded if and when the state legislature determines there is appropriate funding to allocate for this category of student. This usually does not take place until late in the spring term. Category 3 and 4 students should not expect to be funded at the start of their term, if at all.

How much is the grant?
The amount may vary each academic year, depending upon the State's funding. The award amount for 2008 - 2009 will be $3,200 ($1,600 per semester) for undergraduates and $1,900 ($950 per semester) for graduates. The 2008 -2009 award amounts may decrease at anytime during the academic year.

When can I receive the grant?
Students may receive the grant in the Fall and Spring semesters only, provided they take at least 9 credit hours (graduate or post-graduate) or 12 credit hours (undergraduate) each semester. The grant will be credited to their accounts in the fall only, which potentially may make them eligible for a refund. Students who are in their last year of school and received VTAG for the prior year may be eligible to receive a prorated award amount.

More information about the TAG program is available on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) website.

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