Roanoke College has announced the Southwest Virginia Scholars Award, a guaranteed, four-year scholarship intended to expand access to higher education for students from across the region.
The scholarship will automatically provide $5,000 per year to incoming first-year students from 24 counties and eight cities stretching from Botetourt County to Southwest Virginia. The award is available to eligible students beginning in fall 2027 and does not include income requirements or additional application paperwork.
When combined with other financial aid, including the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, merit awards and need-based grants, the scholarship could result in free tuition for some of the region’s highest-need students, according to the college.
“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 award will be automatically applied to admitted students from eligible localities. Students will not need to request the scholarship or complete additional forms to receive it.
“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. “We are particularly proud to signal this idea in the strongest possible way to our own region.”
Southwest Virginia students also may qualify for additional assistance through Roanoke College’s financial aid program. The college said merit-based and need-based grants are awarded to 95% of students.
The scholarship is part of the college’s broader efforts to expand educational access and develop pathways for students at various stages of life. Recent initiatives include a free associate degree program for local high school students and online courses for working professionals.
More information about the Southwest Virginia Scholars Award is available at roanoke.edu/SWVAScholars.
-The Salem Times-Register
