Paying for college in West Virginia just got a whole lot easier.
West Virginia Invests is a state-funded grant program providing FREE tuition (the full cost of basic tuition and fees*) for select certificate and associate degree programs at West Virginia public two-or four-year institutions. Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. This is a last-dollar-in program, meaning that it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition and fees that isn’t already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships.
* The maximum award amount is limited to the total cost of basic tuition and fees charged to all students, regardless of program, minus other grant or scholarship aid. Certain programs charge additional fees to cover equipment and supply costs and other necessary expenses. These fees, along with the cost of textbooks and other course materials, must be paid by the student if other forms of financial aid are not available to offset these costs.
You may qualify for a West Virginia Invests Grant if you:
- Were a legal resident of West Virginia for at least 1 year immediately before applying;
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen for federal financial aid;
- Are a graduate of a public, private or homeschool program, or have successfully passed a high school equivalency test;
- Have not already earned a college degree (associate level or higher) or attempted 90 hours of college credit;
- Be in compliance with the college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy; for renewal you must also have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average;
- Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
- Not be in default on a federal student loan;
- Are willing to make a commitment to improving the state by living in West Virginia for at least two years after graduation and completing at least 2 hours of unpaid community service each academic term;
- Meet the minimum admissions requirements at an eligible institution and register for at least 6 credit hours; and
- Pay for and pass a drug screening during the 60 days before the start of the first term you are enrolled and eligible for an award in each academic year. Depending on results, you may be required to take another drug screening during the academic year and/or complete other requirements to continue eligibility. Review full details of this requirement by visiting the Drug Screening page.
