Skip to main content

December is fast approaching - Don’t miss the deadline - Your federal loan(s) could be forgiven! Learn More

If you’re a spring 2023 Vermont college grad who is staying in state and working for a Vermont-based company, you could be eligible for $5000 in loan repayment! CLICK HERE.

Home
MyVSAC
Make a Payment
Search
Menu
Close
Make a Payment
Search

Main navigation

  • About Us
    • Meet Our Leaders
  • Newsroom
  • FAQs
  • Research
  • Financial Aid Professionals
  • Resources
    • Order Publications
    • VSAC YouTube
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Dropdown Navigation

  • Pay
    • FAFSA
    • Financial Aid Options
    • Financial Aid Appeals
    • Grants
    • Scholarships
    • Student Loans
    • Student Loan Repayment
    • Student Loan Relief Programs
    • Manage Loan Default
    • Workforce Development Funding
  • Plan
    • College & Career Pathways
    • College Application Process
    • College Decision Process
    • Explore Career Options
    • For Adult Learners
    • Plan for Costs
    • Resources
    • Search for a School
  • Save
    • Save with VT529 / VHEIP
    • Gift of College Gift Card

Upcoming Events

Oct
24
VSAC's Annual Financial Aid Training for Education and Agency Professionals: VSAC & State Updates
1:00pm - 2:30pm on Zoom
VSAC & State Updates This virtual training session will provide important updates and changes to financial aid resources specific to VSAC and statewide initiatives. When registering, we welcome you to...
Event for Education Professionals
Oct
04
In-Person FSA ID Help
9:00am - 3:00pm VSAC Resource Center
Do you need help creating or resetting your FSA ID (the username and password for the FAFSA)? We have counselors available to assist you. We are also offering virtual FSA...
FSA ID
View All Events
Paying for College
Main Content

How to Apply for Financial Aid

There's money to pay for college and training. VSAC can help you get it.

 

There's money to pay for college and training. And for most students planning to attend college or career school, financial aid is essential. We’ll walk you through how financial aid works, and VSAC resources to pay for college.

 

Financial Aid Sources

 

FAFSA details

Scholarships for students

Workstudy for students

Grants equal free money

Funding for career training

Learn about loans

FAFSA
Focus on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to get financial aid for college and training.

 

All types of financial aid—including Vermont grants and VSAC-assisted scholarships—require a FAFSA. You don’t have to know what you want to do after high school, but completing a FAFSA helps keep your options open.

The  government FAFSA is free. Making sure you're on sites that end in dot-gov, will ensure that you're not paying for any service or application.

7 steps icon

  1. Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID (username and password).

  2. Gather your information.

  3. Start a FAFSA application. 

  4. Review and submit your FAFSA.

  5. Look for a confirmation message. 

  6. Check your email for a Student Aid Report (SAR).

  7. Make any needed corrections to your FAFSA application. 

fafsa guide icon

 

Get FAFSA help from VSAC.

 

↑ back to top

 

grants
Grants are free financial aid that you do not need to pay back. 

 

 

VSAC is your resource for Vermont grants. Grant amounts vary by student and by year, depending on available funding and financial need.

There are 3 kinds of grants you can use for your education or training:

Vermont state silhouette

STATE GRANTS
Check your state for grant programs here:

If you're a Vermont resident, you may be eligible to receive grant money from the state through VSAC. 

united states silhouette

FEDERAL GRANTS

Pell grants, FSEOG grants, TEACH grants, Iraq & Afghanistan service grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
File a FAFSA to determine your eligibility. 

building icon

COLLEGE GRANTS from your school.
Contact your school's financial aid office to ask what applications need to be filed. 

Be sure to look for financial aid deadlines and additional forms that may be required. 

 

Start your Vermont grant application.

 

↑ back to top

 

scholarships
Scholarships—like grants—are financial aid that you do not need to pay back. 

 

 

Scholarships are offered by many different groups, organizations, and even individuals. They're offered for all kinds of attributes—and to all kinds of students. In fact, if you live in Vermont, you can take advantage of scholarships that are just for Vermonters. VSAC can help guide you through the scholarship search process. 


VSAC administers more than 120 scholarships available to Vermont residents. And we encourage you to apply!

Keep in mind:

Scholarships are competitive.

Communication is key. 

Eligibility is important.

 

Explore scholarship options. 

 

↑ back to top

 

career-focused funding
Funding for improving the long-term future of your career.

 

The Vermont Legislature passed a historic bill in June 2022 which invests millions of dollars of state and federal funding into initiatives designed to address Vermont’s workforce shortage. This new funding will reduce or eliminate tuition for eligible students pursuing careers in critical fields such as skilled trades, early childhood education, nursing, mental health care and more.

cartoon girl writing

VSAC, in partnership with other Vermont agencies, will offer grants and interest-free forgivable loans that will help eligible students afford the degree or training they need to pursue the career they want.

 

View the current offerings on our Workforce Development page.

 

↑ back to top

 

work study
Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

 

 

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student's course of study. Students must file a FAFSA as part of the application process for FWS assistance. 

Contact your school's financial aid office or learn more at studentaid.gov.

 

↑ back to top

 

loans

If you’re new to the world of education loans, the details can be confusing. 
 

 

Many students need loans to pay for education expenses after grants, scholarships, work-study and savings.

There are two main options for student loans: federal (government) loans or private loans from banks, credit unions, and other lenders. You should research all your options for federal loans, also known as Direct loans, before shopping around for private loans.

As Vermont’s nonprofit state agency, we’ll help you understand the basics of federal and “private" loans (they're not created equal). We'll also show you ways to compare options so that you can minimize your monthly payments and the amount you’ll pay in the long term. 

Know more borrow less icon

Learn more about loans.

 

↑ back to top

 

VSAC logo

(800) 642-3177

info@vsac.org

2023 Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
Designed by Hark

Footer menu

  • Contact
  • Investors
  • Scholarship Donors
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Use
  • Jobs at VSAC

© 2023 All Rights Reserved