Apply for Financial Aid – Financial Aid – Virginia Western Community College

Before you apply: Before you apply for financial aid, you should apply for admission to VWCC as a degree/certificate student.

2025-2026 FAFSA

The 2025-26 FAFSA is open. Get ahead and complete your FAFSA for next year (fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026).

2024-2025 FAFSA

If you are starting classes in spring or summer 2025, it is not too late to complete and submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

Visit Do the FAFSA if you would like a Virginia Western financial aid advisor to assist you with your FAFSA.

Check out Cardi, Virginia’s new FAFSA-related texting resource. Cardi can assist you with FAFSA tips and reminders. View the flyer (PDF).

Click here to sign up for tips and reminders from Cardi!

1. Complete the FAFSA

Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you can. To make sure your financial aid award is posted before the first tuition payment due date you should submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid before the priority deadline (see below). This application needs to be completed each year. There are 3 ways to apply:

Recommended: Apply online at http://www.studentaid.gov.
Create your Federal Student Aid account (FSA ID)
- Cómo obtener un FSA ID para personas sin un Número de Seguro Social (SSN) (PDF)
Go to https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out and download a PDF version of the FAFSA to complete and mail or fax for processing.
Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and request a paper application.

Federal School Code: 003760

Ineligible to Complete the FAFSA:

If you cannot complete the FAFSA and are eligible for in-state tuition you may be eligible to complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA).
- Who should file the VASA?
  - Nonimmigrants
  - Undocumented individuals
  - DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients
  - Individuals who are otherwise ineligible to complete the FAFSA
VWCC will use the results of your VASA to determine your eligibility for Virginia State Financial Aid Programs and certain institutional aid programs like the Community College Access Program (CCAP).

Learn more about the VASA and apply.

Special/Unusual Circumstance:

If you, your spouse or your parents income has significantly changed since the taxes used to complete the FAFSA were complete, please review the Special Circumstance: Income Review information.
If you are under 24, and the FAFSA is requiring parental information on the FAFSA, but you do not have contact with your parents, review the Unusual Circumstance: Dependency Review information.

Federal Student Aid – YouTube

Priority Deadlines

If you are going to apply for financial aid, the priority deadline for application materials is based on your start term. Students who submit all documents required by the Financial Aid Office by the priority date will have their financial aid package by the tuition deadline. Students may still apply for financial aid after the priority deadline.

Semester Attending VWCC	Priority Date
Summer 2024	April 1, 2024
Fall 2024	July 1, 2024
Spring 2025	October 31, 2024

Which FAFSA do I complete?

Current academic year, 2023-2024 (fall 2023, spring 2024, summer 2024): complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA
Next academic year, 2024-2025 (fall 2024, spring 2025, summer 2025): complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA

2024-2025 FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMELINE

(All times are estimates.)

Mid-May, 2024 – VWCC begins financial aid related communications with students.

Late May, 2024 – VWCC begins sending financial aid packages to students.

July 1, 2024 – FAFSA priority filing deadline.

2. Check Your MyVWCC SIS Message Center and VWCC Email Often

The VWCC Financial Aid Office will send important information and instructions to you through your MyVWCC Message Center. We will send you an email if we post a new message.

3. Respond to Financial Aid Requests for Additional Information

Respond to any requests for additional information you receive from the VWCC Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. Click here for instructions for how to check your Financial Aid To-Do List in SIS.

4. Report Scholarships

You have to notify the Financial Aid Office of all scholarships you receive outside of VWCC. Use the Scholarship Information Form (PDF) to report your outside scholarships. We may have to adjust your financial aid package as a result of outside scholarships.

5. Register for Classes

6. Pay for Classes

Log into MyVWCC and check your account balance and your pending financial aid award. If your financial aid award is less than your total account balance, pay your balance by the due date. Check here for payment due dates.