Pursue a career in healthcare – tuition free

A program to increase the number of healthcare professionals serving rural populations in Vermont.

Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program

The Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit program, funded by a grant from the federal government, was established by the Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services and VSAC to support individuals pursuing education in eligible health related fields who are committed to serving rural Vermont communities following degree completion.

Workforce development funding is limited and awarded to qualifying students on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds have been depleted.

Tuition Benefit awards are made with the following conditions (signed Tuition Benefit Agreement required):

Complete forgiveness of education awards under the following conditions:
- The total educational support will be forgiven upon completion of 5 years of employment as a healthcare professional in a Vermont healthcare setting, serving a rural community (see the description for what qualifies as a rural community). Note: Employment as a traveling nurse/healthcare professional does not meet this employment commitment.

Note: You will be required to reimburse VSAC for the full amount received from the tuition benefit program, if at any point during the 5 years following the completion of your program you:

do not complete the degree program for which you received the funds,
leave Vermont, or
do not fulfill the 5 year work commitment in a Vermont healthcare setting, serving a rural population

View the full description and application instructions

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $195,053,740.44 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Vermont Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program FAQs

Eligibility – Including Application Process

Who is eligible and what fields of study are eligible for this program?

Students who:

Are US Citizens
Commit to working in Vermont, as a healthcare professional in a healthcare setting, serving a rural community, for 5 years following completion of your degree and receipt of your license (if applicable) – Travelling nurse/professionals are ineligible
Priority given to Vermont residents, however non-Vermont residents, who commit to working in VT for no less than 5 years following graduation/licensure may apply and will be considered if funding is available
Must not be actively enrolled in a privately funded loan forgiveness program (like the Workforce Opportunity Loan Program) or be in repayment phase of a State of Vermont or privately funded loan forgiveness program
Have not received more than the equivalent of 4 years of funding from the Vermont Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit program in your lifetime
Seek an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the following programs:
- Allied Health
  - Dental Hygiene
  - Radiology Technology
  - Respiratory Therapy
  - Occupational Therapy
- Mental Health
  - Clinical Mental Health
  - Community Mental Health Counseling
  - Marriage and Family Therapy
  - Mental Health Counseling
  - Social Work
  - Psychology
- Nursing
  - LPN
  - Associate’s Degree
  - Bachelor’s
  - Graduate or higher (APRN, MSN, DSN)
- Emergency Medical Services/Paramedicine (must be a degree program, not a certificate program)
- Dentistry (Graduate level or higher only)
Enroll at least half-time
Maintain good standing at your school (minimum 2.50 GPA)
Complete and sign a Tuition Benefit Agreement agreeing to reimburse VSAC for the full amount received in education award funds if the employment commitment is not met
Attend an accredited school approved for federal title IV funding (Pell grants, federal Direct loans)

Why aren’t other programs or fields eligible?

The fields listed above were identified as the workforce areas with the highest need in Vermont. The list will be reevaluated annually.

Where do I find more information about other eligibility requirements?

View the full description and application instructions.

What period does this cover?

Funding awarded will be applied towards the costs of programs you attend during the 2026-2027 academic year (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027).

When should I apply?

You should apply now; the deadline is June 12, 2026.

What documents are required?

In addition to the Unified Scholarship Application, the following documents are required:

FAFSA
- If you are a Vermont resident, VSAC will automatically receive your FAFSA information
- If you are not a Vermont resident, please submit a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary
General Essay
Transcript

How do I apply? (Already applied for VTDENTIST, VTDHYGIENE, VTNURSE2)

If you’ve already applied for VTDENTIST, VTNURSE2 or VTDHYGIENE -

Since the funding for this program is considered on a rolling basis until funds are depleted, we’ve added the Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program to your application for consideration.

Please review the required documents and ensure your MyVSAC Work with Scholarships and Forgivable Loans account reflects them as received.
- If you have already submitted these documents, no further action is needed.
- If you have not yet submitted them, you must do so by on June 12, 2026.

How do I apply? (Already submitted a USA, but did not apply for other health related forgivable loans/tuition benefit programs)

If you’ve already submitted a Unified Scholarship Application for another scholarship(s) and want to add this program to your application:

Log into your MyVSAC Work with Scholarships and Forgivable loans account.
Click on Scholarships in the menu on the left-hand side.
Click on the Add Rural Health Transformation Program button (located at the bottom of the Scholarships page).

How do I apply? (Haven’t already submitted USA)

If you haven’t already submitted a Unified Scholarship application:

Log into your MyVSAC Work with Scholarships and Forgivable loans account.
Click on Submit 2026-2027 Unified Scholarship Application under ‘Submit Application’ and follow the instructions.

When is the deadline?

All materials are due by midnight of June 12, 2026.

I’m not interested, what do I do?

Your application can be updated so you are not considered.

We can take this verbally or you can email us at scholarships@vsac.org.

Program Details, Eligibility, and Work Commitments

When will I hear about my eligibility for VTDENTIST, VTNURSE2, VTDHYGIENE?

Unfortunately, funding is not available for these programs. You may be eligible for the Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program.

This new program is designed to support Vermont’s rural healthcare workforce by offering tuition benefit awards to individuals pursuing education in eligible health related fields who are committed to working in a Vermont healthcare setting, serving a rural community following degree completion.

How does this differ from VTDENTIST, VTNURSE2, VTDHYGIENE?

This new program, which is part of a larger Federal Grant, requires a 5-year commitment to working in Vermont.

Why are VTDENTIST, VTNURSE2, VTDHYGIENE no longer available?

Due to the availability of the new Federal Grant the Vermont Department of Health, the Agency of Human Services and VSAC developed this new program that aligns with the requirements of the Federal Grant.

Can you provide more details about the work commitment?

If you accept the award, you are committed to working as a healthcare professional in a Vermont healthcare setting that serves a rural community (see below for eligible facilities), for 5 years.
At the end of your 5 years of employment, your total education award balance will be forgiven.

If I receive funding from the Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program for multiple years, how many years must I work in a healthcare setting in Vermont?

You must work in a healthcare setting in Vermont, serving a rural community for 5 years, regardless of the number of years for which you receive funding.

What does it mean to serve a rural community?

Serving a rural community is defined as working at a facility/office that is in:

Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, or Windsor County or
One of the following zip codes in Chittenden County; 05445 (Charlotte), 05461(Hinesburg), 05462 (Huntington), 05465 (Jericho), 05466 (Jonesville), 05468 (Milton), 05477(Richmond), 05489 (Underhill), 05490 (Underhill Center), or 05494 (Westford) or
All Community Health Centers of Burlington locations, home health agencies or community mental health centers in Chittenden County, regardless of zip code.

Do you have a list of employers I can work for?

No list is currently available.

Does employment as a travelling nurse qualify?

No travelling nurses (or other travelling health professions) do not qualify.

Is Dartmouth Medical Center an eligible employer?

If you are working at a Dartmouth location in NH, no the location is not eligible - your employer must be located in Vermont in one of the locations above.
If you are working at a Dartmouth location in one of the zip codes listed above, yes, if the location is in an approved county/zip code in Vermont, the Vermont location is eligible.

Does functioning as a school nurse or mental health counselor in a high school or middle school count?

Yes, if the school is in:

Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, or Windsor County or
One of the following zip codes in Chittenden County; 05445 (Charlotte), 05461(Hinesburg), 05462 (Huntington), 05465 (Jericho), 05466 (Jonesville), 05468 (Milton), 05477(Richmond), 05489 (Underhill), 05490 (Underhill Center), or 05494 (Westford)

Otherwise, no that employment is not eligible.

Does self-employment count?

Yes, if it’s not telehealth or as a travelling nurse, and you are located in:

Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, or Windsor County or
One of the following zip codes in Chittenden County; 05445 (Charlotte), 05461(Hinesburg), 05462 (Huntington), 05465 (Jericho), 05466 (Jonesville), 05468 (Milton), 05477(Richmond), 05489 (Underhill), 05490 (Underhill Center), or 05494 (Westford)

Otherwise, no that employment is not eligible.

What if I currently have an outstanding forgivable loan/tuition benefit program?

Your existing obligation must be fulfilled first before your employment will count toward the new program's commitment.
If you have a forgivable loan/tuition benefit program for a prior academic year, once you complete your program and receive your license, your employment will first be applied toward the older forgivable loans/tuition benefit programs.
Once your commitment for those loans has been met, then we will start applying your employment towards the 5 year commitment.

If I’m working while I go to school, does that employment count towards my commitment?

No, your employment while in school does not count towards your commitment.

The employment commitment on the loan is 5 years, regardless of the number of years you receive funding, or the degrees/licenses you receive. If you remain continuously enrolled, while obtaining multiple degrees/licenses, your employment commitment does not begin until you’ve completed your final program/license.

If you do not remain continuously enrolled, but complete your program and receive your license, your employment commitment will begin at that time.

Where does this funding come from?

How much is the award?

The maximum award equals UVM’s in‑state tuition, or the tuition of a higher‑cost Vermont State University (VTSU) program if you are enrolled in one.
The amount disbursed will be your actual tuition charges as verified by your school at the time of disbursement, up to your award amount. This means the amount disbursed to your school may be lower than your award.
If your tuition is fully covered by other tuition‑specific financial aid, this award may be applied toward room, board, books, and supplies. However, the award amount may not exceed VTSU or UVM’s in‑state tuition cost for your program.

Funding is limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Those who apply by the postmark deadline will be considered first.

Additional questions?

If you have additional questions about your application or status, Contact VSAC or call 888-253-4819.

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