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An Early Commitment Scholarship Program

SOAR Virginia prepares eligible high school students across Virginia for success in post-secondary education through a combination of individual advising, encouragement and up to $2,000 in a Invest529 scholarship account. Established as a pilot program in 2010 and made permanent in 2015, SOAR Virginia further expands Virginia529’s mission to make higher education more affordable and accessible, especially to students who face financial obstacles.

Virginia529 partners with six community organizations to offer SOAR Virginia in one third of the districts across the Commonwealth, from Lee County in far Southwest Virginia to the Eastern Shore. The partners provide advisors who work one-on-one with students to implement SOAR Virginia’s objectives. This close relationship helps SOAR Virginia students reach higher, aspire for better futures and make their dreams take flight.


SOAR Virginia® Partners

Access College Foundation
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program
College Access Fairfax
Virginia's Community Colleges
George Mason University Early Identifcation Program
University of Virginia's Virginia College Advising Corps

The SOAR Virginia Pledge

  • I will maintain a minimum cumulative GPA* of 2.5
  • I will meet with my early commitment advisor regularly
  • I will complete financial literacy training during high school
  • I will behave in a manner consistent with my school’s Code of Student Conduct
  • I will attend school regularly without unexcused absences
  • I will participate in community service activities
  • I will complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA) during my senior year
  • I will apply to an eligible educational institution, including a 2- or 4-year college or university, technical school or registered apprenticeship program

*or comparable academic achievement as determined by SOAR Virginia

What the SOAR Virginia Student Can Expect

  • Advising on academic preparation for post-secondary education
  • Financial literacy training
  • Assistance completing college applications
  • Assistance in obtaining financial aid, including help completing the FAFSA or VASA
  • Scholarship support of up to $2,000 to apply toward post-secondary education
  • Support from an Early Commitment Advisor and the SOAR Virginia community
  • Recognition as a SOAR Virginia scholar

Participating High Schools

Central Virginia

  • Chesterfield County
    • L.C. Bird High School
  • City of Colonial Heights
    • Colonial Heights High School
  • Goochland County
    • Goochland High School
  • Hanover County
    • Patrick Henry High School
  • Henrico County
    • Douglas S. Freeman High School
    • Highland Springs High School
  • City of Hopewell
    • Hopewell High School
  • City of Petersburg
    • Petersburg High School
  • Prince George County
    • Prince George High School
  • City of Richmond
    • Armstrong High School
    • Franklin Military Academy
    • George Wythe High School
    • John Marshall High School
    • Thomas Jefferson High School
  • Sussex County
    • Sussex Central High School

Northern Neck

  • City of Colonial Beach
    • Colonial Beach High School
  • Essex County
    • Essex High School
  • King and Queen County
    • Central High School
  • Lancaster County
    • Lancaster High School
  • Northumberland County
    • Northumberland High School
  • Richmond County
    • Rappahannock High School
  • Westmoreland County
    • Westmoreland High School

Northern Virginia

  • Arlington County
    • Arlington Tech*
    • H-B Woodlawn*
    • Wakefield High School*
    • Washington-Liberty High School*
    • Yorktown High School*
  • City of Alexandria
    • Alexandria City High School*
  • Fairfax County
    • Annandale High School*
    • Edison High School
    • Fairfax High School*
    • Falls Church High School*
    • Justice High School*
    • Mount Vernon High School*
    • Oakton High School*
    • West Potomac High School*
    • Woodson High School*
  • City of Falls Church
    • Meridian High School*
  • City of Manassas
    • Osbourn High School*
  • City of Manassas Park
    • Manassas Park High School*
  • Prince William County
    • Battlefield High School*
    • Brentsville District High School*
    • C.D. Hylton High School*
    • Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School*
    • Forest Park High School*
    • Freedom High School*
    • Gar-Field High School*
    • Osbourn Park High School*
    • Patriot High School*
    • Potomac High School*
    • Unity Reed High School*
    • Woodbridge High School*

Southside

  • Brunswick County
    • Brunswick High School
  • Buckingham County
    • Buckingham County High School
  • Cumberland County
    • Cumberland High School
  • Greensville County
    • Greensville County High School
  • Halifax County
    • Halifax County High School
  • Lunenburg County
    • Central High School
  • Mecklenburg County
    • Mecklenburg County High School
  • Prince Edward County
    • Prince Edward County High School

Southwest

  • City of Bristol
    • Virginia High School
  • Buchanan County
    • Council High School
    • Grundy High School
    • Hurley High School
    • Twin Valley High School
  • Dickenson County
    • Ridgeview High School
  • Lee County
    • Lee High School
    • Thomas Walker High School
  • Pulaski County
    • Pulaski County Sr. High School
  • City of Radford
    • Radford High School
  • Russell County
    • Castlewood High School
    • Honaker High School
    • Lebanon High School
  • Tazewell County
    • Graham High School
    • Richlands High School
    • Tazewell High School
  • Washington County
    • Abingdon High School
    • Holston High School
    • John S. Battle High School
    • Patrick Henry High School

Tidewater

  • Accomack County
    • Arcadia High School
    • Chincoteague High School
    • Nandua High School
    • Tangier Combined
  • City of Chesapeake
    • Deep Creek High School
    • Indian River High School
    • Oscar F. Smith High School
  • City of Franklin
    • Franklin High School
  • City of Hampton
    • Hampton High School
    • Phoebus High School
  • Isle of Wight County
    • Smithfield High School
    • Windsor High School
  • City of Newport News
    • Heritage High School
    • Warwick High School
  • City of Norfolk
    • Booker T. Washington High School
    • Granby High School
    • Lake Taylor High School
    • Maury High School
    • Norview High School
  • Northampton County
    • Northampton High School
  • City of Portsmouth
    • Churchland High School
    • I.C. Norcom High School
    • Manor High School
  • Southampton County
    • Southampton High School
  • City of Suffolk
    • King's Fork High School
    • Lakeland High School
    • Nansemond River High School
  • City of Virginia Beach
    • Bayside High School
    • First Colonial High School
    • Green Run High School
    • Kempsville High School
    • Landstown High School
    • Salem High School
    • Tallwood High School

Valley

  • Augusta County
    • Buffalo Gap High School
    • Stuarts Draft High School
  • Bath County
    • Bath County High School
  • City of Charlottesville
    • Charlottesville High School
  • City of Harrisonburg
    • Harrisonburg High School
  • Highland County
    • Highland High School
  • Nelson County
    • Nelson County High School
  • Rockingham County
    • Broadway High School
    • Turner Ashby High School
  • City of Staunton
    • Staunton High School

Western Virginia

  • Alleghany County
    • Alleghany High School
  • City of Covington
    • Covington High School
  • Craig County
    • Craig County High School
  • City of Danville
    • George Washington High School
  • City of Martinsville
    • Martinsville High School
  • Montgomery County
    • Eastern Montgomery High School
  • Pittsylvania County
    • Chatham High School
    • Dan River High School
    • Gretna High School
    • Tunstall High School

* In partnership with GMU-Early Identification Program