How We Create Opportunities for Vermonters

Our vision is to create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to higher education are closed to them.

VSAC’s 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN

More than $533.3 million is invested in 27,247 Vermont Higher Education Investment plan accounts as of June 2022.

VSAC NEED-BASED EDUCATION GRANTS

In 2021–2022, VSAC awarded 11,513 need-based education grants (totaling $20.3 million) to Vermont students.

VSAC SCHOLARSHIPS

VSAC administered 150 scholarships funded by public or private sources—funding 6,072 awards worth more than $9.7 million during the 2020–2021 academic year.

VSAC LOAN SERVICES

VSAC’s FY22 financing:

• VSAC issued $38 million in its Vermont Advantage loans and serviced $540.7 million in federal and private loans
• Borrower benefit programs have saved borrowers more than $183 million since 1995
• Offered the Vermont Advantage loan for Vermont students and parents
• Provided Vermont Advantage loan coaching: free, in-depth personalized education debt counseling as borrowers begin repayment

VSAC COMMUNITY OUTREACH

In 2021–2022, VSAC:

• Counseled 6,544 low-income and/or first-generation, college-bound Vermont students of all ages through the VSAC Aspirations Project, special projects with the McClure Foundation and three federal grants: Talent Search, GEAR UP and Educational Opportunity Center. 
  • 70% of Talent Search and 57% of GEAR UP participants who graduated from high school in 2021 continued their education in the fall.
  • More than 1,808 Vermont adults enrolled in the EOC program and 81% enrolled in postsecondary education; the program assisted an additional 1,638 people throughout Vermont.
• Middle school and high school students from all over Vermont were served by GEAR UP partnerships, including Vermont Afterschool, Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative, University of Vermont, and Community College of Vermont’s Introduction to College & Careers.
• Served approximately 431 first-year Vermont students attending colleges both in- and out-of-state through VSAC’s innovative GUIDE program, which helps students transition successfully to college and improve first-year retention rates. Additionally, approximately 900 GEAR UP postsecondary students received GEAR UP’s renewable scholarship.
• 42,544 Vermonters and other borrowers are assisted by VSAC financial counselors in FY21.
• Some 1,230 parents and students attended free “Paying for College” sessions online, and 241 people tuned into College & Career Pathways virtual workshops. Recordings and webinars have received over 2,292 video views on YouTube.
• Distributed financial aid materials, adult student handbooks, and scholarship booklets to 650 Vermont schools, libraries, and agencies.
• VSAC staff provided training to 200 education professionals on the topics of career exploration, college planning, and applying for financial aid.

Learn more about how VSAC influences higher education policy in Vermont > 

VSAC 2022 Annual Report

Download VSAC’s 2022 annual report.