Top Scholarships in VA

Going to college is more expensive than it has ever been in the past. A college education is also greater than it has ever been before. This means that more and more people are striving to get a college education. Unfortunately, many people do not have the funds to pay for a college education. The good news is that there is a multitude of different scholarship options available for students from the state of Virginia.

Here are 35 great scholarship opportunities for students that are residents of Virginia or are attending college in the state of Virginia.

Featured Programs

1. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation

This scholarship is named after the 3rd president, Thomas Jefferson. It was created to cover the full cost of tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students that go there. It does cover the out-of-state fees as well as the standard in-state tuition for out-of-state students. It also includes room and board, books, and any other fees that the student may incur while attending the University of Virginia. It is a merit-based award that is given to highly gifted students. Students must be nominated for the award and go through a rigorous selection process to be eligible for the prize.

2. Astronaut Scholarship

The scholarship is designed for students that display talents and dedication in engineering, and the sciences. The award is worth $10,000 and not renewable. It is rarely renewable for one year in some cases. To be eligible students must have a letter or recommendation from a faculty member at UVA, submit a one-page personal essay, and file their FAFSA on time. Students must also present their transcripts and resume to be considered for the award. The deadline for next year has not been set yet.

3. Beckman Scholars at UVA

This scholarship is designed to benefit highly motivated students that work in a laboratory at the University. The winners will work full-time in the laboratory full-time for two summers. They will also work in the laboratory for 10 hours a week while they are in school. The award is worth $19,300. All Virginia students are eligible for the award. They must submit a resume, an essay, and a research plan for their work. They also must have two letters of reference from faculty members. The deadline Applications are due by February 26th.

4. Charles H. Koch Jr. Scholarship

Students that study at the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences are eligible for this award. It is intended to help cover the costs associated with an internship in Foreign Affairs. The scholarship is for a summer program and is worth $5,000. All applications for the scholarship are due by May 2nd. The application must contain a cover letter and a budget plan for the funds gained from the scholarship as well as a reference from a faculty member.

5. Davenport Leadership Scholarships

This is a scholarship based on merit that is given to incoming freshmen at Virginia Tech each year. They give out 7 of them annually. The scholarship does not require financial aid through FAFSA. Those that are eligible for the award will be asked to apply for it based on their application to the school by March 15th. The first stage is to fill out an online form and submit transcripts and GPA to the school. After that, the finalists will be selected to apply. Their application is due by February of 2017. This is a renewable scholarship.

6. Pratt Scholarship

This is a merit-based scholarship for incoming freshmen at Virginia Tech. There is no application for the scholarship. The students that are selected for the award are only eligible if they are a first generation college student. This means that no one in their family has gone to college before them. It is based on the normal college application and academic success. The award is renewable and is worth $5000.

7. Alumni Legacy Scholarship

This scholarship is offered through James Madison University in Richmond, VA. This award is earmarked for students who have parents or grandparents that have graduated from James Madison University. The awards are solely based on academic achievement. There is no consideration for financial need. Students much verify their eligible to proving their legacy. They must also write an essay about why they deserve the award. Applications for the award are due by May 29th.

8. Frank Knight Scholarship

This scholarship is given to James Madison students who are studying political theory or political science. One of these awards is given annually to a JMU student. The award is valued at $500 and is not renewable. The student must be a Political Theory and Democracy Major. It is also based on financial need. To apply, students must submit an application and a resume to the school by January 29th.

9. Virginia Museum Undergrad Fellowship

This is a scholarship available to students in any year of their undergraduate studies in the state of Virginia. It is intended for students that are in the arts in the state of Virginia. The award is worth $2,000 at the minimum, and the maximum varies year by year based on how many awards are given out and how much funding is available. The award is only available to residents of the state of Virginia. Eligibility for the award is judged on a case by case basis. Applications are due by March 15th, and students must turn in the FAFSA on time.

10. AOTF District of Columbia Scholarship

This is a scholarship for students in Virginia that are studying occupational therapy. To be eligible students must attend Howard University and have at least one year of coursework completed in occupation therapy. The amount given varies from year to year based on funds. Only one of these awards is given each year. The student needs to hand in their application by October 29th along with a letter of recommendation.

11. Green to Gold Army ROTC Scholarship

This scholarship is for individuals from the state of Virginia that have at least two years of active duty military service under their belts. To be eligible, the student must have scored at least a 19 on the ACT and have had at least a 2.5GPA. The student must also have no more than three dependents. The scholarship covers full tuition, room and board, and extra fees for books for the student. Applications for the ROTC scholarship are due by February 1, 2017.

12. Bernie Varnadore Scholarship Program

This is for incoming college freshmen in the state of Virginia who played in the Dixie Boy’s Baseball League. 11 of these awards are given out each year to former youth baseball players. They are each worth $1,250. To be eligible, the student must be able to prove that they played on a franchised Dixie Boy’s Baseball team. They must be also Applications for this award must be submitted by April 1, 2017.

13. Esperanza Scholarship

The Esperanza Scholarship is available to immigrant students in Northern Virginia. The scholarship is need-based. The amount of money that is awarded to each student varies based on their need. The awards range in value from $5,000 to $20,000. They are eligible to any immigrant student in Virginia that is attending a public institute of higher learning. 11 of these awards are given out each year in Northern Virginia. Both of the students’ parents must have been born outside of the US in order for the student to qualify.

14. ESA Youth Scholarship

This award has been around since 1996. The award was founded by the Electronic Safety Association to give the sons and daughters of security workers, and police, and firefighters the chance at a better-funded education. The award is based on academic achievement in the classroom, test scores, and other merit-based factors. The application for the award should be turned in by March 25, 2017, in order to qualify. 2 scholarships are given out each year, and they are both valued at $8,500.

15. Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was designed to help fund the education of students that are going for careers in the nursery and landscape field. It is available to students in the Mid-Atlantic. Only students from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia are eligible for the award. Students are also required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their major to qualify for the award. The application is due on May 31, 2017, and the $4,000 scholarship is renewable.

16. Virginia Tech Engineering Scholarship

This is a merit-based scholarship for students that are accepted into the engineering program at Virginia Tech. To be eligible, the student must be in the top 3% of their graduating class in high school. They must also have scored at least 1400 on their SAT exam. There is no extra application necessary for the award outside of the standard school application. The award is given to one freshman student each year, and it is valued at $2,000.

17. Tractor Supply Company Scholarship

This is an award available to students in the state of Virginia that are studying in the field of agriculture. It is a one-time award that is worth $3,000. The application is due on February 15th. The student must also turn in FAFSA on time to be eligible. The award is based on academic achievement and financial need. Students must provide a picture to Tractor Supply that they can use if they win the prize.

18. Ruth Rabbe Hager Scholarship

This scholarship is available to members of Kappa Alpha Theta in the state of Virginia. It is based on community service and academic merit. The award’s value varies from year to year, but the maximum amount that can be given is $1,175. The student must provide references with their application and be initiated into the fraternity by the time the application is due. The application due date varies from chapter to chapter at different schools.

19. Mike Johnson Scholarship Foundation

This scholarship is available to students that are residents of Virginia and Oregon and are attending college or university in those states. It is a merit-based scholarship. To be eligible, The student must already be enrolled in a Virginia institute of higher learning and be studying in the field of the environment. 1 of these awards is given each year, and the value of the scholarship is $2,000. The application for this scholarship must be submitted by November 11th.

20. Dixon Hughes Goodman Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for students that are Juniors, Seniors, or fifth-year students in accounting. To be eligible, students must have at least a 3.0 minimum GPA with a minimum of a 3.3 GPA in accounting. They also must be enrolled in an accredited Virginia institution. 2 of these awards are given out annually, and they have a value of $2,000 each. The due date varies from year to year.

21. VSPCA Undergraduate Accounting Scholarship

This award is only granted to undergraduate students attending an accredited Virginia institution that are studying accounting. In order to be eligible, they must have at least a 3.0 GPA in accounting and overall. The award is worth $1,000, and one is given each year. They must have had at least 3 hours of credit completed by the Fall 2016 semester and be U.S. Citizen. The due date for this award varies form year to year.

22. Franklin D. Boyce Annual Health Scholarship

This award is only available to residents of Virginia from certain cities. It is intended for students that interested in a healthcare-related career. It is available to both undergraduate and graduate level students. At least 1 of these awards is given out each year. The scholarship is valued at $2,500. To qualify, students must have scored at least an 850 on the SAT and have at least a 3.0 GPA. The application is due by February each year. It can be renewed for up to 3 years.

23. Holly A. Cornell Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to aid in the educational funding of minority women students that are pursuing an education in the field of water supply and treatment. The scholarship is only for graduate students or students that have been recently accepted into graduate school. The award is worth $7500 and is a one-time award. The deadline to be considered for the award is January 16th.

24. Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Scholarship Program

This is a scholarship awarded to 28 students in the state of Virginia each year. The scholarship is available to eligible students that complete an essay based on some aspect of General Robert E. Lee. The essay can be positive or negative. The top students in each district of public high school will be given $2,000. The second place student will get $1,000. The top student overall will get an addition $8,000 making their total scholarship award come to $10,000. The deadline for the application for this scholarship varies from year to year.

25. My Political Hero Essay Contest

This scholarship awards the winner of an essay contest with a scholarship. The award is valued at a maximum of $2,000. A varying number of awards are given out each year. The essay should be on the topic of “My Political Hero” and should be no longer than 800 words in length. Only legal residents of Virginia are eligible fro the My Political hero essay contest scholarship award. The deadline to turn in the essay is May 1st.

26. Perlita Liwanag Memorial Scholarship

This is a need-based scholarship available to students from the metro Washington D.C area including Northern Virginia. One award is given out each year to a student of need. The value of the scholarship is $2,500. The winner of the award is obligated to run a bone marrow registry drive at the school that they attend. The deadline for application for this scholarship is March 11, 2017. To be eligible students must have been diagnosed or have had a sibling or parent diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39.

27. VDH Nursing Scholarships

This scholarship is available to students that are pursuing an LPN or RN degree at a school in the state of Virginia. The student must have been a resident of Virginia for at least one year to be eligible for the award. They also must have at least a 3.0 GPA in school. The maximum amount of the award varies from person to person. The winner of the scholarship must agree to work as a full-time nurse for one month for each $100 they receive in funds. The application deadline for this scholarship varies from year to year.

28. Leo Bourassa Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by the Virginia Lakes and Watershed Association. It is designed to help support students who’re studies are devoted to this feel. Students must be enrolled at a Virginia college or university to be eligible. They must be in good standing academically. They must also have one year of full-time study completed by the time of application to be eligible for the award. The award is worth $3,000, and some winners vary from year to year. The deadline for application is April 1, 2017.

29. Virginia Commonwealth Award Program

This award is focused on helping students in need that attend universities and colleges in the state of Virginia pay for their college tuition. It is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled at least half-time at an institution in Virginia. They must also be proven resident of the state for at least one year. The application deadline for this award varies from year to year. The amount awarded is based on need and varies from individual to individual.

30. The Roothbert Fund Scholarships

This scholarship fund is dedicated to helping fund the educations efforts of students in Virginia who are looking for a career in education. It seeks to support individuals with good spiritual values. Individuals must have been a resident of Virginia for at least one year in order to be eligible. The award has a value of $3,000. There are 20 of these scholarships awarded each year. The deadline for application is January 31, 2017.

31. VABA Aviation Scholarship

This is award is available to students who have graduated from high school in the state of Virginia who are looking to pursue a career in the field of aviation. Students must complete a 500-word essay on why they are pursuing a career in education. They must also have a GPA of at least 3.0. They must also present two letters of recommendation, one preferably being from someone in the aviation industry. The amount of the award is $2,000, and the deadline for application is May 30, 2017.

32. Lisa Higgins-Hussman Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for people between the ages of 15 and 35 who have been directly affected by cancer. This whether they had it, or a parent or sibling had the disease. Each winner of the award is required to run a bone marrow drive at the school they attend. The total award given is $2,500 over two semesters of study. The deadline for application for this scholarship is March 11, 2017. One award is given out each year.

33. Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program

This scholarship is designed to help fund the education of students who are looking for careers in education and are going to teach in one of Virginia’s critical shortage teaching areas. Undergraduates getting the degree must have at least an “A” average and be in the top 10% of their graduating class. There is no set amount of awards of this type that are given each year. Winner must be a Virginia legal resident. The maximum amount of the award is $10,000. The application deadline for this program varies from year to year.

4. Lighthouse Guild Scholarships

This scholarship helps fund the education of residents of Virginia that are legally blind. The scholarship is an academic merit-based scholarship. Students do not need to exhibit financial need to be eligible for the scholarship. The student has to provide 2 500 word personal statements and three letters of recommendation. At least 2 of these letters of recommendation need to be related to academic success in the classroom. The maximum value of this scholarship is $100,000 of the four years that the student is in school. The student must be able to prove that they are legally blind to receive the award.

35. The Legacy of Life Essay and Video Scholarship

Six of these scholarships are given out each year. They are awarded to students from Virginia that live in some metropolitan regions. The Foundation is dedicated to improving some organ donors in the United States. Students must submit a video or essay trying to convince people to donate organs, tissue, or eyes. The value of each award given is $5,000. The application deadline for this scholarship is March 23, 2017.

We’ve worked hard to include a variety of scholarship opportunities within our list. If you have any suggestions on additional scholarships, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.