Financial Aid

Financial aid is money to help pay for education after high school. It comes in different forms:

• Grants: It’s basically free money. Yes, you read that right!
• Scholarships: Awards for your hard work, talents or needs.
• Work-Study: A chance to earn while you learn.
• Loans: Money you can borrow now and pay back after you’re done with school.

Where Does Financial Aid Come From?

Financial aid is available from various sources — federal and state agencies, colleges and even local and national businesses and scholarship organizations.

How to Get Started:

To open doors to both state and federal help, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some colleges might also ask you to fill out the CSS Profile to understand your financial needs better.

Did You Know?

If you’ve got some impressive skills, talents or achievements in academics, arts, sports, leadership or other areas, you might qualify for merit-based scholarships. That’s extra financial aid just for being amazing at what you love!

Bottom Line:

All students should apply for financial aid. Knowing your options is the key to making smart decisions about your education. For more information on financial aid, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) financial aid page.

Resources:

Level Up Virginia Cost Comparison Calculator 

Use our Cost Comparison Calculator and your financial aid offers to compare the final costs of attendance by school and by year. Choose from the following formats:

• Google Sheets - The link will automatically make a copy to use in Google Sheets.
• Excel
• PDF - Requires manual calculating.