Paying For College

FINANCIAL AID AWARDS BEGIN WITH FAFSA

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to receiving financial assistance through SWCC.

See instructions on How to Complete the FAFSA

Complete your FAFSA application and enter SWCC’s code of 007260. Your FAFSA award information will be received by SWCC’s Financial Aid office and your award will be made based on your FAFSA results. (see how to apply for financial aid)

Information about FAFSA awards:

• If you have applied for Financial Aid (PELL, SEOG, CSAP) and your award has been made, your tuition will be charged to your Financial Aid account, viewable at MySouthwest>Campus Finances>Account Inquiry. You will receive an award letter from Southwest once your application is complete and the award determination is made.
• If you are a Financial Aid applicant and have not received an award letter, you can verify that your award process has been completed at MySouthwest>Campus Finances>View Financial Aid.
• If you are a Financial Aid applicant and your award is not found by viewing your Financial Aid information using item 2 above, contact the Financial Aid office.
• REMEMBER your financial aid award is based on full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours). If you are a part-time student, you should contact financial aid to determine whether your assistance will cover your tuition.

SPECIALIZED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Tuition assistance for residents of Buchanan and Russell Counties.

• Buchanan County CONNECT: Learn about the SWCC Connect Buchanan | Tuition-Free College Education scholarship.
• Russell County Residents: R.A.C.E.: If you graduated from a Russell County school, you may qualify for the Russell Co. Access to College Education scholarship. Visit https://www.russell.k12.va.us/page/race for more information. Community Service hours are required.
• Tazewell County CONNECT: Learn more

G3: Get a Skill, Get a Job, Get Ahead

The G3 (Get a Skill, Get a Job, Get Ahead) Program is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state tuition and whose family income falls below an identified threshold. Learn more about eligibility requirements and available programs.

Single Stop

Get access to public benefits and community resources using Single Stop!

Tuition and Book Assistance

The Last Dollar Scholarship is available to students whose financial aid or scholarships do not cover all tuition and books for the semester. Limited funding is available each semester. Contact the financial aid office or shelly.musick@sw.edu for more information. Download the Books & Tuition Last Dollar Scholarship Application.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Education Foundation Scholarships

The SWCC Educational Foundation, Inc. administers over 300 scholarships for the benefit of SWCC students. A student with a 2.0 (C) GPA or greater is encouraged to apply for scholarships. However, some scholarships do accept lower GPAs, so any student may apply. Based upon application responses, applicants will be matched by the Scholarship Office to scholarships for which they qualify. See the Scholarship Application page.

External Scholarships

Local and regional foundations and organizations provide specific scholarship opportunities to Southwest students. Each of these scholarships is administered by their respective organization (not the SWCC scholarship office) with varying application requirements. See the Scholarship page for more details.

HOW TO PAY TUITION BALANCES

If you do not have financial aid, or your financial aid does not cover all of your tuition, you can pay your tuition in any of the following ways:

E-Pay

You may use monthly or semi-monthly scheduled payments for tuition balances. Contact the Cashier’s Office for more information at 276-964-7367.

For schedules and payment amounts, please visit https://mycollegepaymentplan.com/sw#dates

Tuition Payment Plan

Sign up for a Payment Plan to pay tuition monthly. Find out about important deadlines and how to enroll on the Tuition Payment Plan page. Students may also qualify for an emergency loan.

Pay Tuition at the Cashier’s Office

Pay by cash, check, MasterCard, VISA, or Discover at the Cashier’s Office on the 3rd floor of Tazewell Hall, T-323 See Cash Office Hours or mail payment to SWCC Business Office, P.O. Box 1101, Richlands, VA 24641. Make checks and money orders payable to Southwest Virginia Community College. Tuition must be paid in the exact amount due.

Online Payments

Pay your tuition online using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or E-check:

1. Login to MySouthwest and select SIS Student Information System.
2. Click on My Student Information.
3. Select Finances and then Make a Payment.

For assistance using this feature, contact the SWCC Business Office, at 276-964-7367 or 276-964-7219. Contact Us

Students who may have further questions about paying for classes can contact us for more information. Class enrollment at Southwest Virginia Community College is not official until your tuition is paid in full. Tuition becomes due on the first day of class and is due upon enrollment after the term is underway.

TUITION REFUND/DEBT REMOVAL POLICY

Under exceptional circumstances, Southwest Virginia Community College can grant tuition refunds/debt removals for students. Refunds/debt removals are guided by Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Policy 4.3.2.2 and are only available in exceptional cases. These have been defined as the following: 1) administrative error, (2) documented extenuating circumstances (e.g., major medical emergency, extreme financial hardship, death of an immediate family member, etc.); or (3) a national emergency or mobilization declared by the President of the United States and under Section 23-9.6.2 of the Code of Virginia.

If a tuition refund is required as a result of actions of the college or of the college being unable to deliver the instruction for which a student has contracted, the student may be granted a tuition refund notwithstanding earlier provisions of the section. In all cases, if a tuition refund is required due to a highly unusual emergency or extenuating circumstance, any such refund must be approved in writing by the president or his/her designee.