Saving for College
Virginia 529 Plans
Virginia 529 Savings Programs Tax-advantage savings programs offered by the state of Virginia.
FAFSA
Do not delay completing the FAFSA. You do not have to wait until you know where you are going to college. Submit your FAFSA Online Application as soon after October 1 as possible.
FAFSA Resources
FAFSA and Financial Planning Virtual Sessions hosted by PWCS--Visit the College and Career Planning page on the PWCS website for details and registration: PWCS College and Career Planning webpage
Seven Things You Need Before you Fill Out the FAFSA Form
Estimate Your Federal Student Aid - free online federal financial aid calculator. This is useful for juniors also.
You've Submitted the FAFSA, Now What:
What to do after you have completed the FAFSA
Pell Grant Resources
Information on Pell Grants
Other Resources:
16 Best Apps for Saving Money in College
Saving Money in College resources
Scholarships
Visit the Naviance Scholarship List page often to view local and national scholarships open to Prince William County students.
Directions for accessing scholarship list:
- Log in to Naviance Student.
- Click on Continue with Clever
- Click on Colleges Tab at the top right
- Scroll down to Scholarships and Money
- Click on Scholarship List
- Click the box to the left of all scholarships you're interested in
- Click +Add to my applications
- Click Add Scholarships to save to your Scholarship Applications List
- Check the list often for updates!
Additional Scholarships
Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC) is proud to announce that the 2022-2023 Leslie A. Ebert Legacy of Life Scholarship Program is now open and accepting submissions in both the Video and Essay categories. Eligible high school seniors can submit up to one essay and/or one video for consideration through April 14, 2023 and have a chance at a top award-$5,000 in each category.To find more information about the scholarship, including viewing winning submissions from previous years, log onto: https://www.beadonor.org/scholarship/
Foundation 649, a nonprofit dedicated to discovering and empowering young, talented Asian Americans who are actively shaping our cultural and social identity, is currently accepting applications for the 2023 scholarship for Asian American/Pacific Islander high schoolers (5 awards of $4,000 spread over 4 years). For details on how to apply, visit https://www.foundation649.com/
The Prince William School Librarians' Association is pleased to announce the return of the Elizabeth W. Bowen Scholarship. PWSLA scholarship awards $1000 to a graduating senior from Prince William or Manassas City area high schools. Graduating seniors who plan to attend a 2 or 4 year college/univeristy are invited to apply. Applicants must submit their first quarter senior grades and have an overall GPA of at least 2.0. All applications are due by March 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM. For more information, please visit https://sites.google.com/view/pwsla/scholarship
The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Phi Kappa Zeta Chapter of Woodbridge, VA is issuing five scholarship awards in the amount of $2,000 each, to female high school seniors attending Prince William County Public Schools. Eligibility criteria: be enrolled in a PWCS high school, be a high school senior, have a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applications must be postmarked by January 27, 2023. Please visit www.phikappazeta1920.org for more information.
The Kimmy Duong Foundation announces the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Programs for the 2023-2024 school-year. Eligible students must be US Citizens or US permanent residents who demonstrate:
-Outstanding academic achievement
-Strong leadership potential
-A track record of service to the community
-Pride in their culture and heritage
-A passion to apply their academic background to create a better world
Students should apply through TheKimmyDuongFoundation.org
Only the first 200 applications will be accepted.
The Links, Incorporated Scholarships
This year, Old Dominion Chapter will be awarding scholarships in the amounts of $1,250 to $2,500 to deserving students. The scholarships are as follows:
· The Ethel L. Reaves Community Service Leadership Award ($2,500)
· The Willa and George Dumas College Scholarship ($1,500 + $500 Sustaining Scholarship)
· The Fannie W. Fitzgerald Educational Leadership Academic Scholarship Award ($1,250)
· The Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke Distinguished Educator Academic Scholarship Award ($1,250)
· The Historically Black Colleges/Universities Scholarship – HBCU ($1,250)
Only one application is necessary from each applicant. The scholarship and amount to be awarded will be based on criteria set by the Scholarship Committee.
To apply for our academic scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year please access our website www.odclinks.org and apply through the auto-fillable form.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Jennie Dean Scholarship
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, Psi Omicron Zeta Chapter of Manassas, VA is awarding our annual Jennie Dean Scholarship to deserving graduating High School Seniors in the Manassas, Manassas Park, Bristow, Gainesville and Haymarket area. This scholarship is to recognize the perseverance and academic resilience of the students in our community. It also serves to encourage those students to continue to pursue academic and career goals despite extraordinary personal and academic challenges. The deadline to apply is March 16th and the Scholarship Committee will be conducting interviews during the week of March 26th-March 31st.
The scholarship form can be downloaded from our website, https://www.psiomicronzeta1920.org/scholarship-3
North Carolina A&T State University Scholarship
The Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University will be awarding three $1,500.00 to graduating seniors who reside in our service area and will be attending the university next year. We ask for your help and support in making students aware of these scholarships.
For additional details, please pick up an application outside the career center. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Applications must be postmarked no later than March 27, 2023, and mailed to:
Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University
ATTN: Scholarship Committee
4222 Fortuna Center Plaza #622
Dumfries, VA 22025
The Granville P. Meade Scholarship provides financial assistance to students who have achieved academically, but who are financially unable to attend college. The Granville P. Meade fund provides scholarship awards to worthy and financially disadvantaged Virginia high school seniors to attend one of Virginia’s public or private colleges or universities.
Applications will be completed, submitted, and reviewed via an online application portal. All students interested in applying must create an account to access the application, request letters of recommendation, and upload academic records. See attachment below for additional information.
Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
The New Dominion Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NDS-NCNW) is awarding four $750 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in our service area. Click here to view scholarship checklist for student eligibility and application requirements and click here to apply to the online scholarship. Applications are due March 1, 2023. Please encourage your students who meet scholarship requirements to apply.
If you have any questions, please contact the NDS Scholarship Committee at [email protected].
The Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is pleased to announce its 2023 scholarship program. Multiple scholarships are available for graduating African American high school students who will attend an institution of higher learning. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 to apply. The deadline for applying is March 20, 20223 Students may send their application packets by email or by US mail.
Application packets sent by email are to be emailed to [email protected] no later than March 20, 2023.
Application packets sent by US mail must be postmarked by March 20, 2023 and mailed to:
Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
PO Box 1099
Woodbridge, VA 22195
For your convenience the application is also available online at www.pwcacdst.org.
Susy Moorstein Scholarship For the Visual and Performing Arts
Provided by Prince William Little Theatre / $2,000
Application available in the career center
DUE DATE: April 10, 2023
Founder’s Scholarship-The Good News Community Kitchen
The Good News Community Kitchen Founder’s Scholarship is designed for students from single parent households or emancipated. While unconventional families are labeled or subjected to various generalizations and stereotypes, they often birth successful community leaders. This scholarship is designed to support the educational goals of such young leaders. Please visit https://www.tgnck.org/scholarship for eligibility criteria and application information.
NOVA CORE Scholarship for Engineering
The NOVA CORE scholarship awards students a full-ride scholarship for an A.S. in Engineering at Northern Virginia Community College. Engineering faculty will hold an information session on Tuesday, February 21st at 6:00 pm. Students may register using this link https://vccs.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOGurTIpG9Dvc5KWFXdAqDCwvfV-qd0p
The 2023 Theta Rho Lambda Alpha Education Foundation Scholarship
This opportunity is available for male graduating seniors who reside in the Washington Metropolitan area and have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. The application deadline is Sunday, April 30, 2023 11:59pm EST. All winners will be notified by Monday, May 15, 2023. If selected, you are asked to attend our 2023 Scholarship Recognition Event, June 3, 2023 (winners will be notified of details). The scholarship recipient will receive a one-time scholarship of $1,000.00 minimum to help finance his post-secondary education.
You can access the application by visiting https://form.jotform.com/223527849343059
Friends of Manassas Senior Center 2023 Scholarship
This scholarship is for grandchildren or great-grandchildren of currently paid members of the Manassas Senior Center. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, an acceptance letter from an institute of higher learning, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and a grandparent or great-grandparent who is a current member of Friends of Manassas Senior Center. Please visit the College and Career Center for an application.
Robert Spencer Smith Memorial Scholarship
Robert Spencer Smith, the inspiration for this scholarship, was a 2017 graduate of Patriot District High School, who was preparing to enter George Mason University the following September to study Information Technology, with an eye toward cyber security or game design.
Robbie was on the Autism spectrum (Asperger’s), and this presented academic challenges which he overcame with hard work and excellent support from the Patriot Special Education department. It was against the backdrop of this struggle that another, far greater challenge emerged in the form of an inoperable brain tumor. He successfully completed his Senior year despite severe fatigue from his treatment, and hopes were high that he would overcome this threat as the summer began. Unfortunately, the tumor proved aggressive and incurable, and Robbie passed on September 12, 2017.
Despite his challenges and illness, Robbie was an incredibly positive and optimistic person, who loved life and brought joy to others around him. He had many friends locally, and many others worldwide whom he knew through online gaming networks. He had a kind heart and always tried to help others who faced similar challenges, and showed great loyalty to his friends.
Robbie’s spirit and joy in helping others is embodied in this scholarship, which is offered to Patriot students who have Special Needs (as documented in an IEP), and preferably those who are pursuing higher education and a career in technology.
Candidates can submit their request for consideration in the form of a short essay explaining what their educational and career plans are, and the Selection Committee will select once recipient each year.
For more information about the scholarship, visit https://www.cfnova.org/scholarship/robert-spencer-smith-memorial-scholarship-fund
Scholarship amount
One non-renewable scholarship of $1,250 is awarded each year.
Eligibility Criteria
This scholarship is open to any graduating senior with a documented Individual Education Plan (IE) at Patriot High School who has been accepted to an accredited community college, college, or university in the fall. Preference is given to those planning to pursue studies and IT or related technologies, but other concentrations or career paths are not excluded.
Nokesville-Bristow Ruritan Club
2023 Scholarship Application
The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans are currently accepting applications for our 2023
scholarship which recognizes outstanding youth for their dedication and commitment
to serving the community. To be considered for this opportunity, please complete
each section of the following application in its entirety and submit all attachments
as requested to the address below by the deadline date:
Nokesville-Bristow Ruritan Club
P. O. Box 431
Nokesville, VA 20182-0431
Application Postmark Deadline is Saturday, April 15, 2023
(Please make sure the Post Office Postmarks your envelope, thank you)
Questions pertaining to the scholarship application can be emailed to:
[email protected]
Please visit the career center to pick up an application.
An Essay about your School Counselor could potentially win you a $1,000 Scholarship from the Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA)!
Please forward and encourage your seniors to write about a School Counselor, past or current, who has made a difference in their lives.
Go to the VSCA website: https://vsca.org/ and click on the 2023 Scholarship - Scholarship Link: 2023 VSCA Essay Scholarship.
Questions can be sent to [email protected]
Essay Deadline is March 27, 2023.
The Naval Officers' Spouses' Club of Washington, D.C.
The NOSCDC is offering a merit based scholarship to graduating seniors who are dependents, including all ranks of active duty, retired, or deceased U.S. Navy service members. The deadline for receipt of an application is April 1, 2023.
https://noscdc.org/philanthropy
The Organization of Latino Actuaries' (OLA) Academic Scholarships
Named scholarships: Winners receive $5,000 and are guaranteed an actuarial internship for Summer 2024. Finalists for the named scholarship will be required to interview.
General scholarships: Winners receive awards of various amounts. The top student will receive the “OLA Cresta Scholarship”, which is a $7,500 award. In Spanish, “ola” means wave, and “cresta” is the crest (top) of the wave. With this award, OLA will be recognizing top future Latine actuaries. Note that a named scholarship recipient is eligible for the Cresta Scholarship, but the most OLA will award to an individual student is $7,500. Finalists for the general scholarship are not required to interview.
Academic scholarships are paid directly to the school.
Applications are open. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2023.
https://theactuarialfoundation.submittable.com/submit
The Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Fellowship of Northern Virginia
1. Must be a Member of a Church in the Northern Virginia and Vicinity.
2. Must be nominated by an active member of the Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows Fellowship
of Northern Virginia and Vicinity.
3. Must be A High School Graduating Senior.
4. Must Be Accepted into A School Of Higher Education: University, 4-Year College, Community
College, or Technical College.
5. Must Complete the Online Application and submit all required documents by mail or email not later
than April 28, 2023.
6. The mailed/emailed documents must include all of the following:
• Three (3) Recommendation Letters;
• An Official High School Transcript (with at least one Senior grading period); and
• A short Academic Resume.
The information should be mailed to:
Mrs. Cheryl Wilson, NoVAMWMW Scholarship Chair
9305 Messina Drive
Fort Washington, MD 20744
The information can also be emailed to her at [email protected].
7. A virtual interview will be conducted with the finalists. During the interview, the applicant should
be prepared to discuss the following topic: “Who Has Been the Greatest Influence in My Life?”
Dunkin' Donuts Scholarship
Applicants must be either high school seniors or current undergraduate students who plan to enroll in a part-time or full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in Fall 2023.
Application deadline is April 13, 2023.
Visit https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/dunkinbaltimoredc/
The Ivy Foundation Greate Prince William County
The Ivy Foundation, Greater Prince William County (IFGPWC) is pleased to announce the availability of one (1) $3,000 Presidential Scholars Award (PSA); one (1) $2,500 Chartering Scholars Award (CSA) and five (5) $2,000 scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic school year.
The five (5) $2,000 scholarships will be awarded as follows:
- Four (4) $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors attending a Historically Black College or
University (HBCU); and - One (1) $2,000 scholarship to a high school senior attending a non-HBCU. The non-HBCU can be a four-year college or university, a community college, or a trade/technical/business
school.
The scholarship application and awards are open to both eligible male and female applicants. Applicants are only eligible to receive one award. Only one (1) application is necessary from applicants. Students receiving the PSA $3,000 scholarship or CSA $2,500 scholarship may attend either a HBCU or non-HBCU. The Scholarship awards ceremony will take place in June 2023.
Additionally, the Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) Scholarship is an opportunity for a $2,000 scholarship designated for a student who plans to pursue a teaching career in Prince William County. Students who plan to pursue a teaching career in Prince William County are required to indicate their intent on their application. The EAF Scholarship can be awarded to a student attending a HBCU or a non-HBCU.
https://pwcivyfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/iFGPWC-Scholarship-Application-2023.pdf
National Council of Negro Women Northwest Virginia Section
The National Council of Negro Women is offering a scholastic achievement award to African-American high school seniors who reside in the Northern Virginia Area. The application deadline is April 3, 2023, and the appplication includes an essay, letter of recommendation and official high school transcript. Please visit the college and career center to obtain the application.