Roanoke College is proud to announce the Southwest Virginia Scholars Award, a guaranteed, four-year scholarship designed to open doors for a new generation of Southwest Virginians.
The scholarship automatically awards $5,000 per year to first-year students from 24 counties and eight cities stretching from Botetourt to the far southwest tip of the state. No income criteria or bureaucratic red tape stand in the way of the tuition assistance.
Combined with other stackable financial aid, including the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, merit awards and need-based grants, the new scholarship can result in free tuition for the region’s highest-need students – closing a critical gap and removing barriers to opportunity.
The Southwest Virginia Scholars Award is available for incoming first-year students beginning in fall 2027.
“Education continues to be one of the most powerful engines for prosperity and opportunity that a community can provide,” Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. said. “Through the Southwest Virginia Scholars Award, we’re making an enduring investment in the students of Southwest Virginia and in the future of this vibrant region we’re proud to call home. This is part of our core commitment to ensuring that talent and ambition are able to flourish here.”
The scholarship is distinctive because it has no income requirements. Students won’t need to request it or wade through additional paperwork to obtain it. It will be automatically given to all admitted students from eligible localities, no strings attached.
“We recognize how financially challenging a college education can be for families. This initiative reinforces our longstanding commitment to ensuring that cost should not be a barrier for students who wish to attend Roanoke College,” said Mark Campbell, vice president for enrollment strategy and student success.
On top of the dedicated scholarship, Southwest Virginia students can harness additional support from Roanoke College’s generous financial aid program. The college offers numerous forms of aid as part of its commitment to access and affordability. Merit-based and need-based grants alone are awarded to 95% of students.
Combined, that support creates significant opportunities for students who reside in Southwest Virginia, including the potential for free tuition for high-need households.
This investment in local students is part of a larger, interconnected mission to expand access to education and meet the evolving needs of our communities. Roanoke College has introduced an array of new pathways for students at all stages of life to learn, grow and build career-ready skills.
Other recent initiatives include creating a free associate’s degree program for local high school students and launching online courses for working professionals. These 360-degree efforts reflect the college’s commitment to supporting a bright future for its students, neighbors, and communities.
To learn more about the Southwest Virginia Scholars Award, visit roanoke.edu/SWVAScholars.
