Many types of aid are available to assist Virginia Tech students in financing their college education. Applying for and receiving financial aid of any type is a process requiring timeliness, persistence, and patience. Students attending Virginia Tech can possibly receive aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and even work study opportunities. These awards can come from federal, state, university, and private sources. Read the information included in this section or visit www.finaid.vt.edu to ensure that you are taking advantage of all available resources.

Costs

Virginia Tech’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid manages a variety of programs, from scholarships to grants to loans to endowments, to assist students with educational costs. The client services staff in the office is available daily to assist students with financial plans.

Estimated costs for the 2006–2007 academic year, shown below, give students a guideline for planning their attendance at Virginia Tech.

Students need to plan for miscellaneous costs not directly charged by Virginia Tech. Students typically average $800 per year for books and supplies. In addition, it is mandatory for all students to have their own laptop computers. Transportation and personal expenses are also considered to be educationally related costs for budgeting and planning purposes. In some instances, financial aid assists with these costs.

Tuition & Fees for 2006–2007

	IN-STATE	OUT-OF-STATE
TUITION & FEES	$6,973	$19,049
ROOM & BOARD*	$4,700–$7,020	$4,700–$7,020
Per Semester Total	$5,837–$6,997	$11,875–$13,035
Per Year Total	$11,674–$13,994	$23,750–$26,070

Programs

The major funds awarded to students from the Title IV federal financial aid programs include:

• Federal Pell Grant Program
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program
• Federal Work Study Program
• Federal Perkins Loan Program
• Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program (subsidized and unsubsidized)
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans for Dependent Students

In addition, students can receive awards from the following Commonwealth of Virginia programs:

• Commonwealth Award
• Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program
• College Scholarship Assistance Program

Financial Aid Application

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid as soon as possible after January 1. The Virginia Tech priority deadline for receipt of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is March 11. This priority deadline ensures students of receiving optimal assistance for meeting college costs. Make sure you list Virginia Tech on your FAFSA even if you have not been notified of your admission decision. Should you wait to receive your offer of admission and then list Virginia Tech on the FAFSA, you could miss the Virginia Tech FAFSA deadline.

Students are strongly encouraged to file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA requires detailed income information from students and parents, including tax information. You can file the FAFSA, even if you have not completed your tax return, by using estimated amounts. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may request copies of final tax returns at a later date to verify the estimated amounts. Be sure to list Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (#003754) on your FAFSA for us to receive your application results.

Within a few weeks, students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor and we will receive the data electronically. Corrections to the application should be coordinated with the student’s financial aid counselor through our office. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may request supplemental information from students as needed to complete the application process – students should be alert in making timely responses when additional information is requested.

Additional Resources

Students needing assistance after receiving financial aid awards may want to consider additional options. Employment opportunities are available on campus through businesses surrounding the community and through the Cooperative Education Program. The Budget Tuition Plan permits equal monthly payments for each semester’s expenses through automatic bank draft, and the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan allows parents to borrow additional funds to assist with educational expenses.

If you have questions or want more information about Virginia Tech’s financial aid and scholarship opportunities, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Virginia Tech, 200 Student Services Building, Blacksburg, VA 24061; phone: 540/231-5179; email: finaid@vt.edu; web: www.finaid.vt.edu.