Scholarship

The GEAR UP Virginia (GUV) Scholarship is available to eligible GUV students who participate in the program between 2021 and 2028. The scholarship will help students pay their college expenses. Review the information below to learn more about the scholarship. If you have questions, email GUVscholarship@schev.edu.

If you participated in the GEAR UP program between 2014 and 2020 and haven’t received a GUV scholarship, you may still be eligible for one. To check, contact us by sending an email to GUVscholarship@schev.edu.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the GUV Scholarship, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Have been a GUV participant between 2021 and 2028.
2. Have earned a high school diploma or recognized equivalent.
3. Be enrolled in an undergraduate two- or four-year degree program or high-quality certification program at an eligible institution of higher education located in Virginia or one of its bordering states. An eligible institution of higher education is one that:
   • Is physically located in Virginia or one of its bordering states (i.e., Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, or West Virginia and the District of Columbia). Exceptions may be made for students with disabilities who need to attend a specific institution for accommodations and students who are approved to participate in the Academic Common Market (visit schev.edu/acm for more information).
   •  Participates in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs.
4. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible for or offered Federal Student Aid.
5. Be less than 22 years old at the time of award and disbursement.

Note: You, your college/university/trade school and your program must be eligible for and participate in Federal Student Aid. For information regarding eligibility, visit studentaid.gov or contact the financial aid office at your college/university/trade school.

Important Deadlines

Complete the application process at least 2 weeks before the start of the semester in which student wants to begin receiving payment, to allow time for processing.

Note: Payments to students who submit their forms and/or documents after the start of the term will be delayed until late in the term. Below are the final deadlines for submitting applications and all supporting documentation. Anything submitted after these final deadlines for each term will not be accepted:

• Fall 2024 - November 1, 2024
• Spring 2025 - March 15, 2025
• Summer 2025 - July 15, 2025

Application Process

GEAR UP Virginia is currently accepting applications from 2023 and 2024 graduates of Brunswick, Hopewell and Petersburg high schools. Click on the "Steps" below to review the application process.

After You Complete the Application Process

SCHEV will review your GUV Scholarship Enrollment and Payment Request Form and supporting documents to determine if you meet eligibility requirements. This process can take two to three weeks.

You will receive an email from GUVscholarship@schev.edu letting you know if you are tentatively eligible. Final eligibility will be verified at a later date by your college financial aid office, following our payment process described below.

Review the Steps to Claim the Scholarship document for more details.

Payment Process

After the college’s census/drop date (the last day you can remove the class from your current schedule with no record of your enrollment in the class on your official transcript) each term, SCHEV will email a student verification form to the college. The college will verify the student’s enrollment level, federal student aid eligibility, and final scholarship amount and submit completed form to SCHEV.

Once the verification form is received, SCHEV will process payments and send the funds directly to the college (via check or bank transfer) within two to three weeks.

The college will then post the scholarship to the student’s college account. Funds may be used to help pay for education-related expenses (e.g., tuition, fees, room, board, etc.) within the student’s cost of attendance (COA) budget.

Payment Amounts

Students who enroll within two years of graduating high school may receive a one-time award of up to $2,500 for one term/semester. The amount of the award will be lower for students who are enrolled less than full-time.

Amount by Enrollment Level

• Full-time (12+ credits) = $2,500
• Part-time (9-11 credits) = $1,875
• Half-time (6-8 credits) = $1,250
• Less than half-time (1-5 credits) = $625

FAQs