The Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) program offers tuition assistance to Virginia residents who qualify for in-state financial aid, have a family income below an identified threshold, and are enrolled in an education program at an associate degree-granting public institution of higher education that leads to an occupation in a high-demand field. G3 can be used for designated programs in five of Virginia’s most in-demand industries: Early Childhood Education, Healthcare, Information Technology, Public Safety, and Manufacturing and Skilled Trades. Virginia’s Community Colleges received $34.5 million for the 2023-24 academic year to be awarded to qualified students who enrolled in approved degree/certificate and noncredit workforce training programs and who met the eligibility requirements.

Highlights of the 2023-24 Academic Year

• 13,648 VCCS (Virginia Community College System) students received approximately $22.9 million in G3 tuition assistance.

• 68% (9,272) of the G3 students enrolled in credit programs that lead to a postsecondary degree or certificate, while 32% (4,444) were enrolled in noncredit Workforce Credential Grant (WCG) programs that lead to a third-party licensure or certification. 68 students enrolled in both credit and WCG programs during the year.

• 1,075 associate degree and certificate programs and 1,026 noncredit WCG programs across all 23 community colleges were approved as G3 eligible.

• 42% of the enrollments were in healthcare programs; 28% in manufacturing and skilled trades; 23% in information technology; 4% in early childhood development, and 3% public safety.

• 56% of G3 students had family income levels below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Students with family income levels up to 400% of the FPL (approximately $111,000 for a family of four) may be eligible for the program.

• 84% of G3 students enrolled during Fall 2023 also enrolled in the spring semester or graduated during the year.

• 75% of G3 students enrolled during AY 2022-23 reenrolled the following year or graduated.

• 2,261 G3 students earned 3,134 associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in 2023-24.

• 3,082 G3 WCG students completed 4,470 WCG programs, and 1,468 earned 2,116 credentials.

• Nearly three-quarters (74%) of G3 program completions in 2023-24 were in either healthcare or manufacturing and skilled trades.

• The median wage of 2021-22 G3 credit program completers increased by 107% from pre-enrollment to post-completion -- more than $11,000 higher than that of students who left their program before completing.