West Virginia University Potomac State College is participating in the West Virginia Invests Grant Program, a state-funded financial aid program designed to cover the cost of basic tuition and fees for certificate and associate degree programs in high-demand fields for qualifying West Virginia residents. This is the “free community college” legislation passed by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2019 legislative session.
Various majors in agriculture, business, criminal justice, computer information systems, and journalism have been identified by the WV Department of Commerce as high-demand fields that will qualify students for the new grant. Visit http://wvinvests.org/find-a-program/ for a complete list of majors.
Students may qualify for the WV Invests Grant if they meet the following criteria: 1) are a West Virginia resident, 2) have never earned an associate degree or attempted more than 90 hours, 3) have graduated from a public, private or home-schooled program or have passed a high school equivalency exam, and 4) participants must also pass a drug screening each semester.
With the vast majority of today’s jobs requiring postsecondary education or training, the program is designed to help more West Virginians earn the credentials they need to get jobs that will allow them to live and work in their home state. Studies have shown that college graduates have higher lifetime earnings and a lower rate of unemployment.
To participate in the program, apply at wvinvests.org. New students should apply for admission to WVU Potomac State College at go.wvu.edu/pscapply. Participants are also required to complete the 2019-2020 FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov.
For more information, visit the WV Invests Grant Program website. Or contact Enrollment Services at 304.788.6820, 1.800.262.7332, or at Go2PSC@mail.wvu.edu.