Financial Aid for Adult Education

There’s money available for eligible Vermonter adult learners planning to earn certificates or degrees. Your EOC counselor can help you research, apply for, and/or refer you to the following funding sources:

• Federal student aid is available to income-eligible students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA provides access to grants and work-study programs based on your financial needs. You'll also be eligible for federal student loans and parent PLUS loans, which are both available regardless of income. All colleges that award federal aid require the FAFSA, and it’s often needed for scholarships.
• Vermont grants are available to income-eligible students who complete the FAFSA and Vermont grant application. Funds are limited for each academic year, so you'll need to submit all required documents before funds are depleted.
• Curtis Training Scholarship is available for Vermont residents seeking college certificates to build job skills in a high-demand industry that supports a livable wage. Contact your local EOC counselor for more information.
• VSAC-assisted scholarships are available to Vermont residents. To identify your eligibility and apply for scholarships, download VSAC’s scholarships booklet  or request a printed copy in the mail.
• Additional scholarships may be found at your college (check their financial aid webpage), employer, industry and professional organizations (for example, the Society of Women Engineers or the American Institute of Graphics Arts), and through online scholarship searches such as FastWeb, Scholarships, or Compare Colleges & Research College Information | Appily. VSAC does not maintain or necessarily endorse any of these sites.
• College or training-specific programs in specific industries, which may be available as regional training needs arise and new programs and funding opportunities develop. Examples include the medical assistant program offered in collaboration between Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and CCV, and the Hypertherm Technical Training Institute for CNC operation.
• Employer contributions may include tuition reimbursement. Check with the human resources office.
• Registered apprenticeships allow Vermonters to work and earn money while taking related classes. Periodic wage increases are established by the employer at the start of an apprenticeship. Earn a nationally recognized portable credential. Veterans are eligible for the G.I. Bill and can use benefits while completing the Registered Apprenticeship Program. Vermont’s Department of Labor has a partnership with Vermont State University – Randolph to advance apprenticeships in Vermont. The colleges work closely with employers in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. Many apprenticeships offer college credits.
• Veterans Administration benefits that help military-connected Vermonters. Visit VA to identify which benefits you're eligible to receive. Your college may also have a special advisor who can help identify resources for military-connected students.
• HireAbility - Where Ability Meets Opportunity offers free, flexible services to any Vermonter or employer dealing with a disability that affects employment. HireAbility partners with human service providers and employers across Vermont to help people with disabilities realize their full potential.
• WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) offers three different programs to support adults, youth 14–24, and dislocated workers in developing career skills and accessing training programs. Contact your local Department of Labor to learn more.

There’s money available to help eligible Vermonter adult learners earn valuable credentials and certificates. Your EOC counselor can help you research and apply for these funds, and/or refer you to the following:

• Advancement grant (formerly known as the non-degree grant) for Vermont residents enrolled or planning to enroll in a non-degree course or training program that will enhance job skills to improve your ability to get a job or that gives you an introduction to college courses.
• Curtis Training Scholarship for Vermont residents who seek short-term training programs to build their job skills in a high-demand industry that supports a livable wage.
• HireAbility - Where Ability Meets Opportunity offers free, flexible services to any Vermonter or employer dealing with a disability that affects employment. HireAbility partners with human service providers and employers across Vermont to help people with disabilities realize their full potential.
• WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) promotes employment and training services for adults, dislocated workers, and youth ages 14–24. Contact your local Department of Labor Career Resource Center to learn more.
• Veterans Administration benefits that help military-connected Vermonters. Visit VA to identify the benefits you may be eligible to receive. Your college may also have a special advisor who can help identify resources for military-connected students.
• Registered apprenticeships that allow Vermonters to work and earn money while taking related classes. Incremental wage increases are established by the employer at the start of an apprenticeship. Earn a nationally recognized portable credential. Veterans are eligible for the G.I. Bill and can use benefits while completing the Registered Apprenticeship Program. Vermont’s Department of Labor has a partnership with Vermont State University – Randolph and Community College of VT to advance apprenticeships in Vermont. The colleges work closely with employers in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. Many apprenticeships offer college credits.
• College or training-specific programs in specific industries, as regional training needs arise and new programs and funding opportunities develop. Examples include DHMC Opthalmic Assistant, Community Kitchen Academy in Barre and Burlington, Hypertherm CNC operation, and many more. Contact local employers and workforce development to ask about trainings offered in the field you wish to work in.
• Employer contributions that may include tuition reimbursement. Some employers offer this benefit; the human resources office and employee manual will have more information.

Please work with your local EOC counselor or college financial aid administrator to find out whether you should be utilizing the aid listed in this document.

Many financial aid resources for undergraduate degrees aren't available to fund graduate studies. Adult learners pursuing advanced training often need to identify multiple funding sources and plan to combine gift aid and self-help aid to pay for graduate-level work. The following information will help you navigate opportunities and options; but since funding sources may change, we can’t guarantee the information will be current, accurate, or complete.

Before You Begin Your Studies

Vermont residents who demonstrate financial need and who have to take prerequisite courses before starting a graduate program may be able to use the Advancement Grant (Vermont’s non-degree grant) to help fund these courses.

VSAC Advantage or federal student loans may be used to pay for prerequisite courses, depending on the number of credits taken per term. Check with the financial aid office to determine your best option, based on whether you’ve used the maximum in federal student loans.

Choosing Your Institution

When you applied to undergraduate colleges, you likely applied to multiple schools, and part of your decision to attend may have involved a price comparison. You should do the same for your graduate studies; explore multiple options and ask each institution about the financial support they can provide for graduate students.

Funding for Graduate Work

Gift aid that doesn't need to be paid back

• Tuition assistance/tuition reimbursement programs are often offered through the workplace. With tuition assistance, your employer makes some or all of the tuition payment; with tuition reimbursement, you pay for a class/classes, and then upon successful completion, your employer pays you back some or all of the tuition. These benefits may have limits and may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; and some employers may require that the courses be directly related to your job. This may be considered taxable income. Reach out to your HR manager to learn more.
• Tuition waivers allow you not to have to pay partial or full tuition. This aid is not considered taxable income. Waiver funds may be specially earmarked for certain populations. Call the school you’re interested in and ask the financial aid office for a tuition waiver if you’ve served in the military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or other service organization.
• Veterans’ education benefits include the GI Bill, support from Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation programs for students with a qualified service disability, and the Troops to Teachers program, among others. Contact your VA office to speak with an education specialist to explore your benefits to the fullest. 
• Fellowships are competitive awards for prospective or already-enrolled graduate students. Training fellowships usually cover tuition and living expenses for the first years of graduate work; dissertation fellowships support living expenses while a student conducts research and completes a dissertation.

Search for fellowships in the same way you'd search for scholarships, and include national organizations in your field, such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; also search by identity, for example, through the American Association of University Women. Useful sites include Pro Fellow, though VSAC does not endorse general Internet content.

• Scholarships are possible for graduate study. Contact the department you’re interested in to find out whether there are specific scholarships you may be eligible for in your program. Also contact the financial aid office to learn about scholarships offered by the institution. To locate graduate-level scholarships, use scholarship search engines such as Fast Web and Scholarships, though VSAC does not endorse general Internet content.
• Grants are awards usually based on financial guidelines. Contact the institution and department to see whether there are grants for graduate students. If you’re pursuing an M.D. at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont or are enrolled in an accredited Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, you may be eligible for a Vermont state grant, depending on income and assets. Apply here.    
• Study-abroad scholarships and fellowships are specifically meant for graduate training outside the United States. Fulbright and Rhodes are well-known examples, but there are others. Study Abroad has extensive information on this type of award, though VSAC does not endorse general Internet content.

Self-help aid that requires repayment or work exchange 

• Residence hall director positions often provide reduced tuition, room and board, and/or a stipend in exchange for living in and managing an undergraduate residence hall, which may include mentoring undergraduate students and creating programming for them.
• Assistantships are arrangements with the school to waive tuition in exchange for work. Full assistantships typically require about 20 hours per week and often are reserved for doctorate students, but partial assistantships requiring less time (but with smaller tuition waivers) may be available to master’s students. Teaching assistantships (TAs) require you to help teach an undergraduate course, while research assistantships (RAs) require you to help faculty conduct their research. Administrative assistantships may involve office work, advising other students, and general administrative duties.
• Federal work–study involves part-time jobs that pay students directly so that salary can be used for education expenses. Students must demonstrate financial need. To determine eligibility, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To locate a work–study position, contact the institution to ask about their work–study procedures.
• Payment plans enable students to pay tuition in monthly installments rather than in one lump sum, and your school may allow students to set up payment plans. If you’re planning to remain employed while pursuing your studies, you may be able to incorporate tuition payments into your budget. Contact your institution for information.
• Loans can be used to pay education expenses. These financial obligations need to be paid back over time, with interest. Options include the unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, which begins accruing interest upon disbursement. The yearly limit is currently $20,500. Some health profession programs have increased borrowing limits. The lifetime (aggregate) limit for Federal Direct Loan borrowing (including loans borrowed for undergraduate work) is currently $138,000. Complete the FAFSA to access unsubsidized loans and follow additional instructions from your institution. 

If additional loans are needed beyond the $20,500 unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan yearly limit, the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is available for students attending graduate schools. Borrowers must not have adverse credit history. Private student loans are another source of funding; these loans are credit-based, and some require cosigners. Review terms and conditions carefully, examine borrower protections, and look for fixed interest rates rather than variable interest rates. 

If federal loans are a part of the plan for paying for graduate studies, there may be options for the use of an income-driven repayment plan or even loan forgiveness through Public Service Loan Forgiveness. There are many factors to consider when determining loan repayment options and whether loan forgiveness may be an option. The best source of information is through the Federal Student Aid loan repayment section, where you can review payment options and learn about forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge options.

The VSAC Student or Parent Loan is an example of a private loan with a fixed interest rate. To access private student loans, you’ll need to complete loan applications and any additional paperwork required by the lender.