A column by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin
Earning a skillset certificate or college diploma is one of the most promising pathways to a bright and prosperous future for our state and our students. Research shows that graduating from college is one of the best chances students today have to get a stable, good-paying job to support themselves and their families.
Increasing the number of West Virginians who have completed postsecondary programs not only strengthens our state’s economy in the face of 21st century challenges, it enriches our communities and empowers the hardworking people who call West Virginia home.
Over the past six years, my administration has worked hard to give all West Virginians the opportunity to improve their lives and make meaningful contributions to our state through higher education. And keeping college affordable remains a priority for state leaders and our colleges and universities.
In spite of the challenging times we find ourselves in, I remain committed to preserving as much as we can in college financial aid dollars awarded through state programs like the PROMISE Scholarship program and the West Virginia Higher Education Grant program. Our colleges and universities understand these challenges and have joined forces to implement cost-saving measures to ensure West Virginia continues to offer some of the lowest public college tuition rates in the country.
In addition to state support, the federal government also offers thousands of dollars in grant programs and tax credits to offset the costs of pursuing a college degree – and a majority of West Virginia students qualify for some form of this financial aid.
Gaining access to funds and resources to help pay for college starts with one important step: completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filing a FAFSA is a required component of applying for state, federal and many private scholarships and grant programs. Sadly, many students who might qualify for thousands of dollars in financial aid fail to complete this important process.
That’s one reason West Virginia set a goal of increasing the number of 12th grade students who complete the FAFSA to 60 percent. Teachers and counselors, higher education officials and community partners across West Virginia are working together to help families complete this crucial step in preparing for college. You can check your school’s FAFSA completion rate at www.cfwv.com.
If you or your child is considering college or a certificate program within the next year, please take time to complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. This important funding is not only available to 12th grade students, but also to adults who are returning to the classroom to retrain for new careers and current college students who will be returning for their sophomore, junior or senior years.
The deadline to file your FAFSA to be considered to receive funds through West Virginia’s Higher Education Grant Program is Friday, April 15. This grant program provides up to $2,600 per year. When paired with the federal Pell Grant ($5,775), students could receive up to $8,375 per year. Meanwhile, the average tuition at West Virginia’s two-year community and technical colleges is only about $3,600, and tuition at four-year public schools is around $6,700.
The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV), an initiative of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Community and Technical College System, offers many free resources to help families complete the FAFSA. Students can visit www.cfwv.com to find a local workshop or call (888) 825-5707 to speak to trained financial aid counselors. Additionally, students can text their questions to counselors at (304) 241-6735.
