Amazon Fund Covers Community College Costs in Virginia
The Amazon Built Together Virginia Fund will pay remaining costs for eligible students at eight of Virginia's 23 community colleges.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Financial Aid
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The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education announced the Amazon Built Together Virginia Fund, which covers costs remaining after federal and state financial aid for eligible students at eight community colleges. The fund supports students pursuing certificates and associate degrees.
Why it matters
The fund targets students in health care, information technology, skilled trades, education, public safety, and advanced manufacturing, fields tied to the state's workforce needs. It expands an existing partnership between Virginia's community colleges and Amazon Web Services on training for digital infrastructure jobs.
The fund covers costs left after federal and state aid, and participating colleges were chosen based on where Amazon operates infrastructure. The total Virginia allocation and expected number of recipients were not disclosed in the announcement.
The players
Amazon
Amazon is a global technology and e-commerce company that operates Amazon Web Services and funds the Built Together initiative.
Virginia Foundation for Community College Education
The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education is the nonprofit that supports and distributes funds to the state's community colleges.
The details
The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education distributes the funds to participating colleges, which were selected based on where Amazon operates infrastructure. The announcement was made at a luncheon in Richmond, Va., celebrating 60 years of Virginia's community college system.
Timeline
November 13, 2026: Fund announced at a luncheon celebrating 60 years of community colleges.
Over the next five years: Duration of Amazon's more than $1 billion Built Together commitment.
Legacy Context
The fund extends a partnership between Virginia's community colleges and Amazon Web Services on digital infrastructure training. It moves that workforce effort into direct coverage of students' remaining costs after federal and state aid.
Eligible students at the eight participating Virginia community colleges may have their remaining costs after federal and state aid covered. Students in health care, information technology, skilled trades, education, public safety, and advanced manufacturing programs are the primary recipients.
The takeaway
Students at participating Virginia community colleges should check whether their certificate or associate degree program falls in an eligible field after federal and state aid is applied. Remaining costs in those fields may be covered by the fund.
Further reading
Explore more on Financial Aid to see how other programs help students cover college costs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 12onyourside.
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