Grants
Financial Aid Grant types include federal, state, and institutional programs. Their awards are listed below in the specific program that are in.
Federal Grants
Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program is administered directly by our office. It is given to students with the most need at the time of awarding. Unlike the Federal Pell Grant, there is a limited amount of funds. Once these funds have been exhausted there will be no additional funds awarded. Here at Norfolk State, the awarded amount for this award is $2,000.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching.
To be eligible for a TEACH Grant, you must do the following:
- Meet the basic eligibility criteria for the federal student aid programs.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
- Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post baccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program.
- Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program.
- Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test (SAT or ACT) or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25). For specific information about the academic requirements, contact our office or the education department.
- Receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation. You must complete counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant.
- Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.
- Note: If you do not meet the requirements of your service obligation, all TEACH Grants you received will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans. You must repay these loans in full, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.
State Grants
Virginia Commonwealth Grant
The purpose of the Virginia Commonwealth Award is to assist undergraduate students with financial need and graduate students to pay part of their college costs. This award may be used for need-based grants to Virginia resident undergraduates or for grants or assistantships to graduate students (both in-state and out-of-state). The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards. In order for an undergraduate student to be eligible for an award, a student must:
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program;
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- Be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Code of Virginia § 23.1-502
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the institution.
- You must have and maintain a 2.0 to receive the Virginia commonwealth award as an undergraduate student. Graduates must maintain at least a 3.0.
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP)
The purpose of the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP) is to provide an incentive to financially needy students now attending elementary and secondary school in Virginia to raise their expectations and their academic performance and to consider higher education an achievable objective in their future. The law requires that the awards to undergraduates be proportional to need so that the students with the greatest need receive the largest awards.
In order for an undergraduate student to be eligible for an award, a student must:
- Be enrolled full-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program;
- Be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Code of Virginia §23.1-502;
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the institution
- Be a graduate from a Virginia high school or complete a program of home school instruction in accordance with §22.1-254.1 (students who obtain a GED are not eligible);
- Have at least a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent);
- If a home school completer: achieve a SAT verbal and math combined score of at least 980 or ACT Composite score of at least 19; and
- Have complied with federal selective service registration requirements, if applicable.
In order to maintain VGAP, you must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. You must also complete at least 30 credit hours in an academic year.
Institutional Grants
The NSU Assistance Grant is awarded on an academic year basis based on student remaining need and available funds. There is no additional application for this grant other than completing the FAFSA. In order to be eligible for this grant you must:
- Have a completed FAFSA
- Be eligible for financial aid
- Be maintaining at least a 2.0
The NSU Transfer Student Grant is awarded on an availability basis to registered transfer students based on demonstrated financial need and merit. Priority Deadlines: Fall - August 15 - Spring- December 1 of each year.
Recipients must:
- Complete the NSU Transfer Grant Application
- Maintain a full-time status with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours per semester.
- Be in good academic standing.
- Have a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
- Applicants must also file the current FASFA with the Department of Education.