Vermont State University and VSAC Partner to Offer Free Tuition to More Vermont Students

Winooski, Vermont—Now students from almost half of Vermont households can earn a two- or four-year college degree at Vermont State University—tuition-free. 

Freedom & Unity, a new program managed by the Vermont Student Assistance Corp (VSAC) in partnership with Vermont State University (VTSU), provides free tuition to Vermonters with a household income of $65,000 or less, who do not have a bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in eligible undergraduate degree programs at VTSU.

Dr. Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges system, remarked, “thanks to Freedom & Unity, our current students as well as more working families, first-generation college students, and adult learners across Vermont can now access high-quality postsecondary education without financial barriers. This initiative reflects our mission to strengthen Vermont’s workforce and communities by ensuring every Vermonter has the opportunity to invest in themselves, pursue their goals, and shape their future.”

VTSU offers more than 100 degree programs across high-demand fields like applied technology, engineering, healthcare, education, and business. With flexible learning options—including in-person, online, and hybrid formats—and personalized support every step of the way, VTSU meets students where they are and helps them get where they’re going. And with free tuition for eligible Vermonters, learners from all backgrounds and life stages can access a transformative education that fits their goals, their schedules, and their lives.

“High-demand, high-wage jobs require students to seek education or training after high school,” noted Scott Giles, President and CEO of VSAC. “And Vermont needs a skilled workforce. Thanks to the vision of Vermont’s leaders, more students from modest-income families—no matter where they are in their lives—will know that an affordable path with an array of choices is available to them. By expanding access to degrees, state leaders have created an historic opportunity for Vermont students of all ages to gain the skills they need for a brighter future.” 

Jen Grandfield, a student in the Associate of Science in Nursing program at VTSU Randolph who expects to graduate in May 2026, shared, “the Freedom & Unity scholarship has taken some of the financial stress off me. It has helped me focus more on school without the burden of all the tuition costs. I am incredibly thankful and excited to be back in school to pursue a career that will open so many opportunities for me.”

Freedom & Unity—named after Vermont’s state motto— was created by VSAC and VTSU with support from Governor Scott and the Vermont Legislature. The program builds upon VTSU’s Free Tuition Promise. 

To learn more about Freedom & Unity, visit vsac.org/unity. 

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Vermont State University provides a high-quality, flexible, and affordable education for students seeking associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, certificates, and in-demand professional credentials. The university builds upon a history of public higher education in Vermont dating back to 1787. Learn more at: https://vermontstate.edu

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is a public, nonprofit agency established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters achieve their education and training goals after high school. VSAC serves students and their families in grades 7-12, as well as adults returning to school, by providing education and career planning services, need-based grants, scholarships and education loans. awards millions of dollars in grants and scholarships for Vermont students, and administers Vermont’s VT529 college savings plan. Learn more at www.vsac.org, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.