West Virginia Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs

West Virginia has several private student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in West Virginia, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.

These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.

There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of West Virginia can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to. 

West Virginia Student Loan Programs

West Virginia doesn't have any unique student loan programs to help it's students pay for college. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in West Virginia. 

If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:

• Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
• College Ave - One of the best private student loan lenders. Get A Quote At College Ave Here.

Check out our complete guide to finding the best student loans here.

West Virginia Scholarship Programs

West Virginia has several state sponsored scholarship programs for its residents.

Promise Scholarship

The PROMISE Scholarship is a merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents. Students who achieve certain academic requirements are eligible to receive funds to help pay for college. Eligible high school graduates will receive annual awards up to $5,500 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public or independent institutions in West Virginia. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.

Learn about the Promise Scholarship.

West Virginia Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship

West Virginia Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship Program is a student financial aid program designed to enable and encourage academically talented individuals to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, science and technology. Scholarships, not to exceed $3,000 per academic year, are awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and interest in the fields of engineering, science and technology. Priority is given to West Virginia residents. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.

The purpose of the program is to assist West Virginians interested in obtaining a degree or certificate in engineering, science or technology and committed to the pursuit of a career in West Virginia.

Learn about the West Virginia STEM Scholarship.

Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship 

Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program is a student financial aid program designed to enable and encourage students to pursue teaching careers at the pre-school, elementary, middle or secondary school level.

Undergraduate and graduate scholarships, not to exceed $10,000 per academic year, are awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and interest in teaching. The purpose of the program is to assist West Virginians interested in obtaining a teaching certificate and committed to the pursuit of a teaching career in West Virginia's public schools. Due to limited funding, priority is given to junior, senior, and graduate students. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.

Learn more about the Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship.

West Virginia Grant Programs

West Virginia also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to West Virginia residents.

Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.

WV Higher Education Grant 

The West Virginia Higher Education Grant is a need-based financial aid program designed to ensure West Virginia students with financial need are given an opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. The grant may be renewed until the student's course of study is completed, but may not exceed an additional three academic years beyond the initial award. Awards are based on demonstrated financial need and generally may be used in conjunction with other forms of state, federal and institutional financial aid. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.

The award amount each year varies based on a number of factors including the financial need of applicants and available funding. Maximum annual awards for 2024-2025 are $3,300.

You can learn more about the West Virginia Higher Education Grant.

Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant

The goal of the Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant Program is to encourage and enable West Virginia students that demonstrate financial need to continue their education on a part-time basis at the post-secondary level.

Students demonstrating financial need who are enrolled in an approved program may receive the cost of the program up to $2,000 towards tuition, required testing and required supplies not covered by other scholarships and/or grants. Students enrolled in multiple approved programs for a single academic year can receive a cumulative maximum of $2,000 for all programs. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.

Learn about the Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant.

West Virginia Invests Grant

The WV Invests Grant is a grant program that pays toward the full cost of basic tuition, mandatory fees and academic program fees for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution.

Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. This is a last-dollar-in program, meaning it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships and institutional tuition waivers.

This grant does require commitments, such as a drug screening and the commitment to volunteer in your community.

Lear more about the West Virginia Invests Grant.

Other Options

If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a West Virginia resident, check out our West Virginia Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to West Virginia residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.

You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.

If you're looking to save for college in West Virginia, check out our West Virginia 529 Plan and College Savings Guide.

Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.