Randolph-Macon College, in collaboration with the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV), is advocating for more critical financial aid for students through the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) program. With this month’s changes in leadership and representation in state government, RMC and the CICV are encouraging students, alumni, and families to engage with this important effort. 

For over 50 years, VTAG has played an important role in helping families with the cost of higher education, supporting approximately 300,000 Virginians pursuing their degrees at Virginia private colleges. For many students, this grant can be the deciding factor in whether college is financially possible or not. This year, the VTAG award for Virginia residents who are full-time students at eligible private colleges and universities is $5,250. 

Due to growth in participation in the program, without additional funding, the award amount per student may be cut. Funding for VTAG is currently less than 4% of Virginia’s higher education budget, while private colleges and universities like Randolph-Macon provide one-third of the Commonwealth’s bachelor’s degrees each year.

With a new administration under Governor Abigail Spanberger and a new General Assembly, it is a critical time to remind our legislators of the importance of the  VTAG program. 

Sharing your support for continued funding of VTAG is easy at: https://bit.ly/2026TAG with simple, automated emails that advocate for this financial aid. 

Make your voice heard today!