Frequently Asked Questions

Use this page to find answers to the most common questions people are asking about the West Virginia Invests Grant. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, contact your institution's financial aid office or one of our financial aid experts!

Is there a deadline? The application does not have a deadline for 2019-20 but awards will be made on a first come first serve basis and there are steps that must be completed before the term begins (i.e. drug screen, promissory note, verification, etc.)
What do I have to do to apply? You must file the 2019-20 FAFSA and the WV Invests Grant application at www.wvinvests.org.
What terms does the application cover? The WV Invests application currently covers the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. The application for Summer 2020-Spring 2021 will become available October 1, 2019.

Can I get WV Invests if my program is not listed as an eligible program? No, students can only receive WV Invests Grant funds for an eligible program.

Will WV Invests cover the courses I need so I can get into an eligible program? No, WV Invests only covers the courses of the eligible program and not any prerequisites that may be required to get into an eligible program.

Can I get WV Invests Grant after I have completed a certificate program for another eligible program? Yes, you can continue to receive WV Invests Grant funding until you have met the requirements for an associate’s degree or reached 90 attempted hours.

What if I want to change programs mid-year? A student may switch from one eligible program to another eligible program and continue to receive the WV Invests Grant until they have met the requirements for an associate’s degree or reached 90 attempted credit hours.

Am I eligible for WV Invests if I am taking a technical pathway program in high school and want to change programs once enrolled in a community college? As long as the student is enrolled in an eligible program and meets the eligibility criteria, they can change programs and receive WV Invests.

If I have a degree already, am I eligible? Those with an associate’s degree or higher are not eligible for the WV Invests Grant.

Clarification on the 90 attempted hours - is this checked at the initial award annually or each term? The 90 attempted hours is checked at the beginning of each term. Once a student has reached 90 attempted hours, then they are no longer eligible. If they have 89 attempted hours, then they are still eligible for the next term.

And how do forgiven attempted hours factor into the rule? There are no forgiven attempted hours for the WV Invests Grant. All attempted college credit hours would count toward the 90 hours, which would include repeats, withdraws, incompletes, and failed credits.

If I am in default or have been in default on a student loan, am I eligible for WV Invests? Any defaulted student loans must be resolved before a student would be eligible for WV Invests. If the applicant is eligible for Title IV aid, then the student is eligible for WV Invests

What test? What facilities are approved? What date is used to confirm completed within 60 days of the start date - the test date or the results/confirmation date? We are currently in the process of obtaining a statewide contract for drug screening that will dictate the specific tests administered and where students can go to take the test.
If I have other financial aid that covers my tuition and fees do I need to take the drug test? No, you only need to take the drug test if you are going to receive funds from the WV Invests program.

What does WV Invests cover? WV Invests covers tuition and mandatory fees. WV Invests does not cover program fees, course fees, lab fees, books, supplies, etc.
What does last dollar mean? We take the tuition and mandatory fees and subtract federal and state scholarships and grants as well as any tuition waivers first. If there is a remaining balance to cover tuition and mandatory fees, then WV Invests will cover the balance.
What scholarships and grants are subtracted before WV Invests is calculated? Pell, SEOG, PROMISE, WV Higher Education Grant, HEAPS Part-time Grant, HEAPS Workforce, and institutional tuition waivers are subtracted first.
What about other types of financial aid? Any other type of financial aid could be added on top of WV Invests – private or institutional scholarships and grants, vocational rehabilitation, WIA, work-study, student loans, Underwood-Smith, Engineering, Science & Technology, WV Center for Nursing.
Do I have to use my Pell or PROMISE before using WV Invests? Yes, if you are eligible for Pell, PROMISE, WV Higher Education Grant, etc. then you must utilize those funds first before WV Invests would cover any tuition and fees.

What community service do I need to do? Those who receive funds in a term, must complete 2 hours of community service as approved and verified by the institution.
What if I don’t complete the community service? The award for that term may be canceled and you will not be eligible for any further disbursements until the community service is completed.
What is the deadline for completing the community service? The community service must be completed by the end of the term.

Do I have to be a WV resident to receive WV Invests funds while I am a student at a WV institution? WV Invests funding is only available to WV residents. Even though a resident of another state is enrolled at a WV institution, that non-WV resident is not eligible for WV Invests funding. To be eligible for funding, the student must be a US citizen and have resided in West Virginia for a minimum of one year immediately preceding the application for WV Invests grant funding.
If I move out of state after I finish my program, do I have to pay the WV Invests back? Once a student is no longer enrolled half-time, they enter a 6 month grace period. At that point a student must be residing in West Virginia or else begin making monthly payments. A recipient must reside continually for 2 years to fulfill the requirements for the WV Invests Grant.
Is it 2 years for each year I receive the WV Invests Grant? No, a recipient only needs to live in West Virginia for 2 years no matter how many terms or how much money the student received.
Does living in West Virginia before I received the award count toward the 2 year residency requirement? No, only residency after a student is below half-time enrollment counts toward the 2 year residency requirement.
What if a recipient cannot find a job in West Virginia? The WV Invests program requires all recipients to reside in West Virginia for 2 years after dropping below half-time enrollment. If a recipient moves out of state, then they would be required to pay back the WV Invests Grant plus any interest and fees.