NOVA welcomes lifelong learners! Earn a degree or learn something new.
If you are a legal resident of Virginia for one year, age 60 or older, you are encouraged to take advantage of free tuition provided by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974. For more information from SCHEV about the senior citizen tuition waiver, please click here.
Three Kinds of Tuition Assistance
CREDIT: Virginia residents who meet the following criteria may take classes for CREDIT at the College free of charge. To be eligible to take three (3) courses offered for academic credit, without paying tuition you must:
- Have had a taxable income not exceeding $23,850 for state income tax purposes for the year preceding the year in which enrollment is sought
- Be 60 years of age or older
- Be a legal resident of Virginia
- Be admitted to the college as an in-state student
- Provide a copy of the previous year’s Virginia Tax Return (p.1) OR pages 1-2 of your U.S. Federal Income Tax Return OR your Social Security statement if you are not required to pay taxes.
AUDIT: Virginia residents who meet the following criteria may AUDIT credit classes free of charge regardless of income. To be eligible for free tuition for audit of credit classes, you must:
- Be 60 years of age or older
- Be a legal resident of Virginia
- Be admitted to the college as an in-state student
- Provide supporting documentation as required
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Senior Citizens are eligible to take Non-Credit (CEU) Courses free of charge (through Workforce Development) regardless of income. You must register for these courses by contacting or visiting one of our 3 full-service Workforce Development offices (Annandale, Loudoun, or Woodbridge) during office hours to complete the Senior Citizen Certificate of Eligibility for Free Tuition form. Please do not complete the online Tuition Waiver form (105-088E); Workforce Development has its own waiver form (105-127).
Questions?
College representatives are available to help you register and/or answer your questions. Please call NOVA’s Call Center at 703.323.3000. You may also live chat or email us. Campus Student Services Centers will assist you with your registration during the senior registration period. Please note that Student Services Centers are generally closed on weekends.