The G3 Program Is Designed To Change Lives
Eastern Shore Community College has launched a training and education program for students with a family income of less than $100,000 to help prepare them for good careers and open jobs in Virginia.
These programs are designed to fit around the busy schedules of working students. Each program has three levels that build on each other. After each level, you earn a certification that can lead to a job. This means students can take breaks in between training without losing progress along the way to an associate degree.
The financial assistance for this program is “last dollar,” which covers any remaining tuition or fees after other grants and scholarships are spent.
Students must maintain a schedule of least six credit hours (usually two classes), maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and show progress to earning an associate degree in three years in order to maintain eligibility.
How to Enroll in a G3 Program
G3 funding is awarded a first-come, first-served basis. While the program does not start until July 1, 2021 (pending final approval on pending legislation) by signing up early we can help start the process and save your spot!
- Select your career path. View the ESCC G3 programs
- Apply to Eastern Shore Community College.
- Fill out the FAFSA or FANTIC application.
- Contact an advisor to plan classes and confirm financial aid.
- Enroll in your first classes.
For more information and assistance, please contact advising@es.vccs.edu or (757)789-1720.
Designated G3 Programs at ESCC
ESCC offers short-term and long-term programs that lead directly to certifications and employment. Programs in the following high-demand careers are eligible for state G3 financial aid for tuition, fees, books, and a living expenses grant for students who qualify. Most programs include multiple levels of credentials. Students can quickly complete one level, enter the workforce, and continue to the next level of education if they choose. Adding levels of credentials can help students advance in their careers.
Early Childhood Education
Healthcare
Medical Assisting
Med Scribe
Nurse Aide
Nursing
Practical Nursing
Industrial Technology
Law Enforcement
Welding
G3 Program FAQs
Click on ▽ to Expand Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
The G3 Program is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for instate tuition and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. Eligible students may enroll in designated programs leading to jobs in high-demand fields.
As long as a G3-eligible student continues in the same program pathway, he or she has up to three years to complete an associate degree.
A student who completes a certificate and stops out to work will still be eligible for G3 if he or she returns within one year. After returning, the student will have two years to complete the associate degree.
In order to remain eligible for the G3 Program, a student must:
- Demonstrate progress to complete an associate degree in three years
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
G3 Program funds make up the difference between what federal or state financial aid pays for and the cost of tuition, fees, and books for the program. This means that an individual enrolling in a certificate or degree program must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for the program. An individual enrolling in a designated short-term credential program must provide documentation of household income or eligibility for federal assistance programs.
Any Virginia resident who:
- Qualifies for in-state tuition;
- Has a total household income of less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly an income of $100,000 for a family of four);
- Is enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours in a Virginia community college;
- Is enrolled in a designated G3 program; and
- Has applied for federal and/or state financial aid programs.
Both. An important benefit of the G3 Program is that it recognizes the different pathways to success depending on a person’s individual needs and circumstances. For some people, a short-term credential or certificate program is the best fit. Others may need a year-long program, and for some a two-year associate degree may be the best fit.
What is very important is that each shorter-term program is part of an associate degree pathway, so people can always come back and build on skills and programs already attained.
- The G3 Program will provide financial incentives for eligible individuals who need to upgrade their skills or who lost jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and prepare them for high-demand, high-value jobs.
- According to data from the Virginia Community College System, completers of these programs gain 60% in wages on average and double the amount of state taxes they pay.
- Employers will benefit from having a larger qualified talent pool to fill high-demand jobs in the Commonwealth.
The G3 program goes into effect on July 1, 2021. Interested individuals may begin the enrollment process at their local community college in April 2021.
Information about how to apply will be available on this page soon.
The G3 Program will be available for full- and part-time students. A part-time student must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or in an approved short-term program.
The G3 Program will provide additional financial assistance to students who qualify for full Federal Pell Grants and enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours in fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours in summer). This additional assistance is intended to reduce the number of part-time hours a student has to work so that he or she can spend more time studying.