Best College & Education in Virginia — 17 resources

About College & Education for Women

Education resources for women include FAFSA-based federal aid (Pell Grants up to ~$7,000/year), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title IX protections against sex discrimination on campus, and dedicated single-mother scholarships through the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards, and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation. Community colleges offer low-cost two-year degrees and trade certificates, often with CCAMPIS-grant subsidized on-campus childcare. AAUW funds career development grants and fellowships for women. GED and HiSET programs run through state adult education offices, usually free. This directory covers FAFSA offices, community colleges, adult education, and women's scholarships.

College & Education in Virginia

Virginia has Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts handling custody, visitation, and child support (for unmarried parents and modifications), plus Circuit Courts handling divorce. The Division of Child Support Enforcement operates under DSS. Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Richmond, Arlington, and Alexandria are the largest cities. Central Virginia Legal Aid and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance serve women.

17 Resources

1. Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) — Free

VTAG at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) gives undergraduate Virginia residents attending private nonprofit Virginia colleges an annual grant (currently around $5,000). Apply through your school's financial aid office. SCHEV office at 101 N 14th St in Richmond, (804) 225-2600.

(804) 225-2600 · 101 N 14th St, Richmond, VA 23219 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. FAFSA — Virginia — Free

Virginia students complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to qualify for Pell Grants, federal loans, and Virginia state grants. The 1-800-433-3243 helpline answers application questions in English and Spanish.

(800) 433-3243 · Online application · 24/7 online · Visit Website

3. Virginia Community College System

VCCS coordinates 23 community colleges across Virginia with affordable tuition, transfer agreements to four-year schools, and the FastForward workforce credentials. The G3 program covers full tuition for many low-income Virginia students. (804) 819-4901.

(804) 819-4901 · Statewide system · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. University of Virginia

UVA in Charlottesville guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants (no loans) for in-state students through the AccessUVa program — a critical option for low-income Virginia women admitted there. (434) 924-0311.

(434) 924-0311 · Charlottesville, VA 22904 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond

VCU at 901 W Franklin St in Richmond serves many adult learners through evening, weekend, and online programs. The Office of Adult Student Services helps women 24+ navigate admissions and credit-for-prior-learning evaluations. (804) 828-0100.

(804) 828-0100 · 901 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23284 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. G3 Program — Free Community College — Free

Get a Skill, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3) covers tuition, books, and supplies at Virginia community colleges for low- and middle-income Virginians in high-demand fields like healthcare, IT, public safety, education, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Apply through any VCCS school.

(804) 819-4901 · Statewide program · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

7. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar College at 134 Chapel Rd in Sweet Briar is Virginia's historic women's college — small, residential, with strong programs in STEM, equestrian, and engineering. Generous need-based aid for Virginia women. (434) 381-6100.

(434) 381-6100 · 134 Chapel Rd, Sweet Briar, VA 24595 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

8. FAFSA — studentaid.gov — Free

StudentAid.gov is where Virginia women complete the FAFSA each year for Pell Grants (up to $7,395), Direct Loans, and Work-Study. Opens October 1; Virginia state grant priority deadlines vary by school.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Federal Pell Grant — Free

Pell pays up to $7,395 per year for undergraduate women whose family income falls below thresholds adjusted annually. Pell is automatically calculated from the FAFSA and never repaid.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. AAUW Educational Funding — Free

AAUW funds graduate fellowships for women — Selected Professions Fellowship for STEM, law, and medicine, and the American Fellowships for doctoral candidates. Virginia branches sometimes administer local awards too.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. P.E.O. International — Women's Education — Free

P.E.O. International runs five scholarship and loan programs for women including the Continuing Education Grant for women whose schooling was interrupted by family or financial hardship.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards — Free

Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards give

,000-
0,000 cash grants to Virginia women heads-of-household in financial need pursuing degrees or technical training. Local Virginia clubs nominate.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Jeannette Rankin Foundation — Free

Jeannette Rankin Foundation awards ,000 scholarships to low-income women age 35+ pursuing technical, undergraduate, or vocational degrees. Application opens each November.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Patsy Mink Education Foundation — Free

Patsy Mink Foundation gives $5,000 Education Support Awards to low-income mothers pursuing post-secondary education — Virginia mothers are eligible without minimum GPA requirements.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Scholarships.com — Free

Scholarships.com indexes 3.7 million scholarships including women-only, single-mother, and adult-learner categories most relevant for Virginia women returning to school. Free profile.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. College Board — BigFuture — Free

BigFuture is the free College Board planning tool covering college search, application timelines, and the AP Potential calculator — useful for Virginia high schoolers researching schools.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. Khan Academy — Free SAT Prep — Free

Khan Academy's free Official SAT Practice is built with the College Board and produces a personalized study plan from PSAT or SAT scores.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many college & education resources are in Virginia?
Women's Corner tracks 17 college & education resources for women in Virginia.
Are college & education resources in Virginia free?
13 of the 17 listed college & education resources in Virginia are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Virginia have college & education resources?
Listings span cities including Richmond, Charlottesville, Sweet Briar.
What are some examples of college & education resources in Virginia?
Featured entries include Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG), FAFSA — Virginia, Virginia Community College System, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
7 of 17 Virginia college & education listings include phone numbers.
How do I pay for college as a single mom?
Start with FAFSA at studentaid.gov — single moms typically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant (up to $7,395/year, not repaid). Add state grants, Federal Work-Study, and scholarships specifically for single mothers (Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation, Soroptimist Live Your Dream, Jeannette Rankin Foundation). Many community colleges have Single Parent Programs with childcare, books, and emergency funds.
Can I go to college while on welfare?
Yes — TANF rules now count post-secondary education toward work requirements in most states, especially CTE/vocational programs. The CCAMPIS program funds free on-campus childcare at hundreds of colleges. SNAP students with kids under 12 qualify for SNAP E&T benefits. Tell your TANF caseworker you're enrolling — they often have hidden funds for books, transportation, and uniforms.
How do I get a GED?
GED classes are free at adult education centers, community colleges, libraries, and online through GED.com and Khan Academy. The exam costs
6–
44 depending on state, and many states waive fees for low-income test-takers. Call 211 or search 'adult education' + your state. Most centers offer free childcare during classes.
Are there scholarships specifically for women?
Yes — AAUW, P.E.O. International, Jeannette Rankin Foundation (women 35+), Society of Women Engineers, Live Your Dream Awards, and hundreds of state-specific awards target women, especially returning students and mothers. Search Fastweb and Scholarships.com filtered for 'women' and your major. Apply to many small scholarships — they're less competitive than big ones.