The 2024-2025 West Virginia Emergency Grant Program is a non-need-based grant intended to help West Virginia residents enrolled in college for the 2024-2025 academic year. The grant, if awarded, stacks with all other West Virginia state financial aid programs but, like most financial aid, is restricted by the Cost of Attendance.

Those eligible to apply for the grant must:

• Be a West Virginia Resident
• Be an undergraduate student
• Be a degree-seeking student
• Have a 2.0 overall grade point average
• Be enrolled in college at least half time during the 2024-2025 academic year

The grant pays for temporary, one-time financial needs stemming from an eligible emergency situation and prevent you from enrolling in, attending or succeeding in your courses. It does not include routine, on-going expenses, such as a monthly car payment or regular daycare bill.

Eligible emergency situations include:

• Food insecurity (e.g., you are unable to purchase or access food)
• Loss or potential loss of housing (e.g., you are facing eviction, you had to move out due to an unsafe situation like a fire or domestic abuse)
• Disruptions in transportation (e.g., your car is not running and needs repairs you can’t afford, your carpool situation ended and you need to access public transportation)
• Disruptions in basic utility services at your residence (e.g., your electricity or water was turned off)
• Disruptions in childcare
• Inability to pay for an emergency medical procedure (e.g., you need to have a tooth pulled but cannot afford the medical bill)
• Inability to resolve a registration hold with your college that is financial in nature
• Inability to purchase required books and classroom supplies
• Other emergency situations, as determined appropriate by your college

Public 4-year institutions

Bluefield State College
Concord University
Fairmont State University
Glenville State College
Marshall University
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Shepherd University
West Liberty University
West Virginia State University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Public 2-year institutions

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
BridgeValley Community and Technical College
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Mountwest Community and Technical College
New River Community and Technical College
Pierpont Community and Technical College
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
West Virginia Northern Community College
West Virginia University at Parkersburg

The maximum award amount is $2,000.

Applicants must enter the amount of assistance they are requesting up to $2,000 on the application. Ultimately, the institutional financial aid office will determine the amount.

Click on the button below to apply*. After you do, someone from your college will reach out with more information. You can expect a response within one week. Please actively monitor your campus email during this time.

*Some institutions are handling the application process separately and are not part of this application process. Their students should contact the financial aid office to apply.

Marshall University students, complete their application by visiting https://www.marshall.edu/sfa/forms-applications/2024-2025-forms-and-applications/. Contact the financial aid office for assistance.

West Liberty University students, complete their application by visiting  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSBH2Ce0iX50af6RugkBQ3_FCfhD50FZBx09OlZfM-uO69mQ/viewform?usp=pp_url. Contact their office at 304-336-8016 or finaid@westliberty.edu for assistance.

West Virginia State University students, contact the financial aid office to learn how to apply.

West Virginia University students, visit https://financialaid.wvu.edu/grants/state/west-virginia/wv-emergency-grant-program for more information.

• I am not sure if my emergency is eligible. Should I apply?  Yes. If you are not sure if your emergency expense is eligible, please apply anyways. Someone from your campus will reach out and help you navigate your emergency, even if the grant does not cover your needs. You can also reach out directly to the financial aid office at your campus.
• Do I need to submit receipts or other documentation?  Your application is the only documentation you need to submit. Your campus should not ask you for receipts or to provide evidence of the emergency other than your signed application.
• How many times can I apply?  A student may only receive one grant from this program. If you apply and are denied, you can apply again. If you have been approved for and received a grant in the past, you may not apply again.
• Why can’t I receive this grant more than once?  The grant is intended to cover one-time, short-term expenses, not ongoing expenses. Your other financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant and student loans, can be used to cover more ongoing expenses.
• Will I have to pay taxes on this money?  This money is considered financial aid, not income.  However, in some instances, financial aid is taxable. Consult IRS instructions or a tax expert to determine if you have to pay taxes on this.
• I just got my money, but my situation is already resolved and I don’t need it anymore. How do I return the funds?  Contact the person at your campus who approved your grant for instructions.
• If I am attending a different institution than those listed, am I eligible for this grant?  No. Funds are only available to students attending a public institution of higher education during the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Who is funding these grants?  Funding was approved by Governor Justice and the West Virginia Legislature to help West Virginia students.