Types of Financial Aid

IMPORTANT – VMSDEP students intending to use these benefits at the College must update their enrollment through the VMSDEP Portal by the Close date posted by DVS for each respective term. The College does not apply VMSDEP waivers retroactively. Please Note: Eligible waivers are applied to current and/or future terms as determined by DVS.

Click the below menus to view the types of financial aid related to that category.

Federal Student Aid Programs

State Financial Aid Programs

Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3)

G3 is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state financial aid and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. G3 can be used for designated programs in five of Virginia’s most in-demand industries: Early Childhood Education, Healthcare, Information Technology, Public Safety and Skilled Trades.

When you’re receiving G3 funding, you’re on a “stackable” pathway, which means that most programs start with skills training that leads to a certificate that has immediate value in the job market. And because that certificate is part of an applied associate degree program, a working student can continue to “stack” additional certificates on the pathway to an associate degree.

You can explore the G3 programs here.

Who is eligible?

Any Virginia resident who:

  • Qualifies for in-state tuition,
  • Has a total household income of less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly an income of $100,000 for a family of four),
  • Is enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours in a Virginia community college,
  • Is enrolled in a designated G3 program, and
  • Has applied for federal and/or state financial aid programs.

How does it work?

G3 makes up the difference between what federal or state financial aid pays for and the cost of tuition, fees, and books for the program. *Last Dollar Funding*

  • Award cannot exceed tuition/fees—Nursing students with exceptional high Follett Materials charges will not be completely covered, see book allowance limits.
  • As long as a G3-eligible student continues in the same program pathway, he or she has up to three years to complete an associate degree.
  • A student who completes a certificate and stops out to work will still be eligible for G3 if he or she returns within one year. After returning, the student will have two years to complete the associate degree.
  • In order to remain eligible for the G3 Program, a student must:
    • Demonstrate progress to complete an associate degree in three years.
    • Maintain a 2.0 grade point average and make satisfactory academic progress.

Book/Supply Allowance

  • Full time(12+credits) = $500
  • 3/4 time(9-11 credits) = $375
  • 1/2 time(6-8 credits) = $250

Student Support Incentive Grant (SSIG):

To qualify for the Student Support Incentive Grant (SSIG), students must be full-time (12 or more credit hours) and receive a full Federal Pell Grant with an EFC equal to 0. This additional assistance is intended to reduce the number of part-time hours a student has to work so that he or she can spend more time studying. *Students with a previous Bachelor’s degree or higher are not eligible for SSIG.

SSIG is disbursed in two installments with the first one occurring after census and the second one delayed until the end of the term in order to confirm the student did not completely withdraw or stop attending.

  • Fall/Spring =$900/$900
  • Summer = $450

What are the Enrollment Requirements & Types of funding?

  • The G3 Program will be available for full- and part-time students. A part-time student must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or in an approved short-term program.
  • The G3 Program will provide additional financial assistance (SSIG) to students who qualify for full Federal Pell Grants and enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours in fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours in summer). This additional assistance is intended to reduce the number of part-time hours a student has to work so the student can spend more time studying.

Merit-Based Programs

Military / Veteran Programs

Student Loans

Other