Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back)
Offered by Virginia Community College System · Free to apply
Virginia covers tuition, fees, and a book stipend at all 23 state community colleges for lower- and middle-income residents in approved programs, for up to three academic years. Eligible fields are early childhood education, healthcare, information technology, public safety, hospitality and culinary arts, and skilled trades, manufacturing, and construction, including short-term FastForward programs. Household income must be roughly $120,000 or less, the student must qualify for Virginia in-state tuition, and enrollment must reach at least six credits. There is no G3 application: the FAFSA, or the VASA form for students who cannot file it, is reviewed automatically. Each college sets its own aid filing date, so ask the campus aid office in the spring or summer before the fall term; the August date here anchors fall enrollment.
How hard is the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~2 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Virginia residents
- Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
- Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back)?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Virginia
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners
- Household income of $125,000 or less
- Planning to study Health & Medicine, Computer Science, Skilled Trades, or Education
- Must qualify for Virginia in-state tuition and complete the FAFSA (or the VASA state application for students who cannot file the FAFSA)
- Enroll in an approved G3 program at one of Virginia's 23 community colleges: 6+ credits, or an eligible FastForward short-term workforce program
- Program must be in one of six fields: early childhood education, healthcare, information technology, public safety, hospitality/culinary arts, or skilled trades/manufacturing/construction (public safety and hospitality also qualify beyond the majors tagged here)
- Household income must be roughly $120,000 or less (about 400% of the federal poverty level; varies by family size)
- Full Pell recipients enrolled full time can receive additional per-semester student-support incentive funds
- Last-dollar award: applies after other grants and waivers
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is August 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 15 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. The college, not the state, sets the date: confirm your community college's aid filing date and enroll in an approved program before the term begins.
- FAFSA opens for the next school year
- October 1, 2025
- Campus financial aid filing date
- Varies by community college
- Fall enrollment anchor
- August 15, 2026
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back)
How much is the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) worth?
The Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) awards tuition, fees + book stipend (last-dollar) and is renewable in later years.
When is the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) deadline?
The current deadline is August 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around August 15 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1. The college, not the state, sets the date: confirm your community college's aid filing date and enroll in an approved program before the term begins.
When do Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) applications open?
Applications open when the FAFSA opens on October 1, and close August 15, 2026. The college, not the state, sets the date: confirm your community college's aid filing date and enroll in an approved program before the term begins.
Who is eligible for the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back)?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Virginia; Open to high school seniors, current college students, and adult learners; Household income of $125,000 or less; Planning to study Health & Medicine, Computer Science, Skilled Trades, or Education.
Does the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back)?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 2 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) free to apply?
Yes. The Virginia G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.