Virginia’s Community Colleges offers G3 tuition assistance at all 23 of its community colleges. So, while it’s easier than ever to find a G3 program close to you (you’re never more than 30 minutes from a community college in Virginia), we’re breaking down the steps to apply and enroll in a G3-approved program.
Remember, before you get started, there are some basic eligibility rules in place. You must:
- Qualify for in-state financial aid
- Have a total household income roughly less than $100,000 for a family of four
- Be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours at a local community college
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have applied for federal and/or state financial aid
Step One: Apply to Virginia’s Community Colleges
Using the application found at apply.vccs.edu, apply to your local community college.
Step Two: Fill out the FAFSA
Head over to the FAFSA website and complete the form for the time you wish to attend school. Prepare yourself, this is a long process that requires lots of documentation. If you’re under 25, you may also need a parent and their documentation, too.
Step Three: Work with your college’s admissions and financial aid support team
From here, you’ll work through how much financial aid you’ve been awarded – and it’s at this time you find out if you’re eligible to receive G3 funding.
Step Four: Enroll in classes
This step may happen close to the same time as Step Three, because in order to receive G3 funding, you must be in a “G3 program.” These vary by college, but will generally fall into one of five career buckets: Early Childhood Education, Healthcare, Information Technology, Public Safety and Skilled Trades.
To learn more about G3-approved programs at your local community college, use our College Locator tool and be sent directly to your local community college’s G3 page.
