What is TAG?
The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program provides annual grants to Virginia residents who are full-time students* at an eligible private non-profit college or university for other than religious training or theological education**. Students do not have to pay VTAG back, demonstrate financial need, or file a financial statement of financial aid application such as FAFSA.
Established in 1972, the VTAG program required General Assembly action and a constitutional amendment which was approved by a statewide referendum. It is authorized in Chapter 4.1 Section 23-38.11 through 18 of the Code of Virginia as the Tuition Assistance Grant Act, and is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
CICV is proud to have played an instrumental role in starting this program, and now coordinates the advocacy of Virginia’s independent colleges for increased funding for TAG and other programs assisting students at independent colleges.
*TAG recipients must be enrolled full-time unless they meet the criteria for a waiver under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
**Students enrolled in academic programs categorized within the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system in group 39 are not eligible to receive TAG awards.
Who is eligible?
Be a Virginia student as determined by:
1) meeting the criteria as a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Code of Virginia §23.1-502 and augmented by the Virginia Domicile Guidelines,
2) meeting the military dependent requirements under § 23.1-505, or
3) meeting the Tuition Equity Provision (TEP) criteria under § 23.1-505.1 as follow:
- Complete at least two years of high school (9th – 12th grade) in Virginia. Any combination of two years of enrollment at a Virginia public or private high school is acceptable;
- Complete high school in Virginia – whether by graduation or completion of a General Equivalency Exam – on or after July 1, 2008;
- File Virginia state income taxes for the two years immediately prior to registration or enrollment;
- Enroll as a full-time student at an eligible institution in an eligible degree program;
- Submit a complete TEP-VTAG (linked below) application to your institution’s financial aid office.
TEPTAGApp2627fillable.pdf (SECURED)
How much is awarded annually?
Provided they apply by the deadline of September 15, 2026, Virginia-resident undergraduate students will receive a non-need-based tuition grant of $5,250 for the academic year 2026-27. Graduate students enrolled in eligible health professional programs receive $5,000. The maximum award amount for 2026-27 was set by the General Assembly in the state budget and took effect July 1, 2026.
Beginning in academic year 2022-23, students enrolled at Virginia’s nonprofit private historically black colleges/universities (HBCUs) receive an additional $7,500 annually on top of the base TAG award.
Additionally, beginning in academic year 2025-2026, students enrolled at Virginia’s nonprofit private Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) receive a supplement to the base TAG award of up to an additional $2,000 annually.
The base award amount is determined annually based on the number of eligible students and the level of funding appropriated by the General Assembly; therefore, the grant award amount may vary from year to year. Awards are automatically renewed as long as students continue to meet eligibility requirements and have not exceeded the maximum period of eligibility. For fiscal years 2027 and 2028, students attending eligible institutions will receive either an HBCU or HSI supplement at the maximum award levels, subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the state for these supplemental grant programs
A smaller award is available for students enrolled in an online education (50%) or distance learning program.
How do students apply?
Here you’ll find the paper 2026-2027 TAG Application. The initial application deadline is annually September 15. Once you have decided what institution to attend, complete and submit the TAG Application to your institution’s financial aid office.
If you are applying to:
Batten University
Emory & Henry University
Ferrum College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hollins University
Mary Baldwin University
Marymount University
Randolph College
Roanoke College
Shenandoah University
Southern Virginia University
Sweet Briar College
Virginia Union University
Washington & Lee University
you may use either the paper application or this electronic submission form.
Many of the other institutions have created online applications unique to their institution. If your school is not listed here, contact the Financial Aid Office to ask if there is an electronic application available.
Who manages the program?
While CICV advocates for the funds for the program, it is administered by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia, with the support of the Financial Aid Offices on each campus.
Is there an appeals process?
If you (or your student) has been denied a TAG award, you may appeal the decision. Complete the form here, which will be reviewed by staff at the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). Appeal decisions typically take 4-6 weeks. You may also contact them with questions at financialaid@schev.edu.
Can I donate to the program privately?
Virginia law allows taxpayers to voluntarily donate all or part of their income tax refund to one or more qualified organizations, including the VTAG program. You may also send your contributions directly to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
Who has the VTAG program helped?
VTAG celebrates over 50 years of making a nonprofit private college education more affordable for over 300,000 Virginians, including many low- and middle-income families. The Commonwealth of Virginia has appropriated over $2B since the grant’s inception, constituting well over 800,000 individual awards. Private colleges continue to serve the full spectrum of Virginia students in terms of academic ability and socio-economic profile.
VTAG has more than kept pace with inflation, preserving the buying power for students and families.
Since FY1978–79, the max VTAG award has increased from $800 to $5,250. While inflation increased prices by about 412% during that period, VTAG increased by approximately 556%, leaving the award about 28% stronger in real purchasing-power terms than it was nearly 50 years ago.