Scholarships and Grants

Did you know? All students admitted to Sweet Briar will receive a merit based scholarship. 

Scholarships

Merit scholarships are based on GPA, academic achievement and other criteria. Students are automatically considered for merit scholarships in the application review process. Merit scholarships are separate from need-based financial aid.

All students also are encouraged to apply for outside/private scholarships that are not SBC specific. Starting in the fall of your senior year, check regularly with your school counselor about scholarships offered in your community.

Create online scholarship profiles on sites such as Fastweb, Chegg or BigFuture. There are thousands of scholarships available to students each year. Apply for as many as possible. Just keep in mind, scholarship searches should always be free. Never pay for a scholarship search.

Sweet Briar Scholars

Each year, Sweet Briar’s top incoming students are invited to campus to participate in the Sweet Briar Scholars event. During the event, students will meet with faculty and alumnae as we celebrate our incoming students’ academic accomplishments and demonstrate how they can continue to grow personally and academically at Sweet Briar.

Girl Scouts Gold Award Scholarship

In partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA, Sweet Briar College offers scholarships for young women who have completed the Gold Award. Thanks to generous donations, Girl Scouts who have been accepted at Sweet Briar from anywhere in the United States can apply for one of five $2,500 awards. Each scholarship award is for the first year of study.

Scholarship winners will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. Acceptance to Sweet Briar College and a commitment to attend
  2. Current (or recent) active membership in a Girl Scout troop and completion of the Girl Scout Gold Award (Please provide copy of the certificate or letter)
Stay Close, Go Far Promise Scholarship

Effective spring 2019, students from EC Glass and Heritage High Schools in Lynchburg can apply for up to $8,000 over four years to attend Sweet Briar College. The scholarship was created in Sept. 2018 by Lynchburg Beacon of Hope in partnership with six local colleges. Learn more here.

Wyllie Scholarship

Wyllie Scholarships are awarded at $3,000 or $5,000/year for four years. The aim of the Wyllie Scholarship is to encourage and support women who have an interest in majoring in engineering science at Sweet Briar College. Wyllie scholarship decisions will be based on a student’s academic record and her interest in engineering, not on financial need. This is a merit-based scholarship and these funds may be added to other financial aid provided by Sweet Briar. To apply, click here.

Performing Arts Scholarships

Sweet Briar is offering performing arts scholarships to students interested in pursuing music, theatre and dance. Scholarships are open to all majors. Each scholarship is worth $1,500, renewable all four years. Students may choose to apply for all three but can only accept one award.

Al Stroobants Foundation Grant

One woman from Lynchburg or Bedford, Campbell or Amherst counties in Virginia will be able to study at Sweet Briar College at no tuition cost thanks to the Al Stroobants Foundation. A grant received by the College will fund one merit- or need-based scholarship, underwriting full tuition and fees for one incoming first-year from Virginia. Learn more about the scholarship on our website. Apply for the Stroobants Scholarship.

Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation

The grant is for $10,000, to award two $5,000 scholarships to first-year students. To be eligible, each first-year student must either be from the city of Lynchburg, or from Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford or Campbell counties. Apply here.

Need-based Aid

A college education is one of the most valuable investments you can make for your future. If Sweet Briar College is your choice, we will work closely with you to help you manage this investment.

Once you qualify for admission, you also may qualify for need-based assistance, academic awards or both. Need-based financial aid is offered to families who demonstrate the need for additional resources to afford Sweet Briar’s total cost.

Sweet Briar College Grants

Students who qualify for need-based assistance will automatically be considered for institutional grants after being accepted to SBC and after the College has received their FAFSA results.

State Grants

Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)

Virginia residents are eligible to apply for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant. VTAG is a state grant, the amount of which is based on state funding. For 2023-2024, that amount is set at $5,000. Completed applications must be submitted to the financial aid office of the institution on, or before, July 31 prior to the fall semester of enrollment. Applications submitted after July 31, but no later than Dec. 1, will be considered for an award only if funds are available.

Visit the VTAG website for information about eligibility and how to apply.

Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program (CTG)

Virginia’s General Assembly passed this program into law in 2007. If you are graduating with an associate degree, you will need to complete and submit your FAFSA and your final academic transcript with your associate degree posted to us. For more information, see the CTG program fact sheet.

The base grant for all eligible, full-time students is $1,000 ($500 per term). Students enrolling full-time into a science, teaching, engineering, mathematics (STEM) degree or nursing program may receive an additional $1,000 ($500 per term). Please be advised that state law requires that eligibility for state need-based grants, if any, may be adjusted due to the CTG award

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grants provide assistance to students with exceptional need in varying amounts.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) provide assistance in amounts up to $4,000 for one academic year to students with exceptional need who qualify for Federal Pell Grants.