If you are a Virginia resident interested in attending a private college or university in the Commonwealth, you will be pleased to learn that SCHEV recently recommended increasing funding for the state grant program designed to help increase affordability and access to private postsecondary institutions. On September 20, the Council voted to recommend that funding for the Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program be increased by $6.4 million for the 2013 fiscal year, and by $14.7 million in fiscal 2014.
The TAG program currently gives eligible undergraduates $2,650 and graduate students in health care-related fields $1,150 annually. The Council’s recommended increase would raise the maximum annual award per student to $2,800 and $3,000 respectively.
Established in 1972 to make private colleges in Virginia a more affordable option for residents, and thus increase the level of student choice, TAG assists Virginians who attend accredited private, non-profit colleges and universities for other than religious training or theological education. This year, the grant program will provide nearly $56 million of financial assistance to more than 22,500 students enrolled in 33 participating institutions.
For a list of participating institutions and other eligibility information, please review SCHEV’s TAG Factsheet.
