The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) has many options for students post-high school.

2-Year Transfer Options
These degrees are designed to transfer to 4-year schools. It is important that you follow all guidelines to have your credits transfer. You can also use the Transfer Virginia portal to check how  your credits (including Dual Enrollment and AP courses)  will transfer to any school in Virginia.

2-Year Associate Degrees
Associate of Applied Science degrees are designed for those students who plan to enter the workforce after 2 years. Most of these degrees do not completely transfer to 4-year schools. 

Workforce & Continuing Education
If you are looking for short-term career training, Workforce and Continuing Education (WCE) may have just the right program for you! Some WCE  programs are even eligible for partial funding. Learn  more about the FastForward credential program here.

There are as many four-year college and university options as students! To help you narrow down your college lists, you can use College Board's Big Future tool to find schools that might fit your goals or the US Department of Education's College Scorecard to compare quick facts about colleges. 

Once you have a starting list, be sure to visit campuses! Spring break and summer are great times to explore your colleges. To make sure you're asking the right questions, check out the Campus Visit Checklist and then complete a Campus Visit Reflection Form to help rank your campus visit experiences. If you can't visit in-person, YouVisit Virtual College Tours can be a good virtual option.

College can be expensive! Whether you attend a 2-year, 4-year, or trade school, it's important to understand all the costs associated with your program. Understanding college costs from the Department of Education breaks down some of the many costs that you might see in addition to just tuition.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is the only way to know if you qualify for federal student aid. This includes the federal PELL grant, federal student loans, and the federal work-study program. In addition to federal aid, many schools will use students' FAFSA information to determine eligibility for institutional need-based aid (money that comes from the university or college). The application is free (it’s in the name) and, in most cases, easy to complete. 

FAFSA Support in Other Languages
Information about Privacy of Information Submitted on FAFSA

Have questions about the FAFSA process? Reach out to Wilson Memorial's GRASP coordinator, Ms. Arritt, at wilsonmemorial@grasp4va.org or use this link to schedule a meeting.