Your Guide to Affordability & Financial Aid
Embarking on your college journey is exciting, but it can also mean making a significant financial commitment. There are so many paths to affording UVM, and every person’s financial journey is different. Our Student Financial Services team is committed to working closely with students and families to make attending UVM possible.
in UVM support (loans, grants, scholarships, and tuition remission) awarded to undergraduates (2023-24)
Best Schools for Financial Aid (Princeton Review 2025)
Best Value National Schools (U.S. News & World Report 2025)
Financial Aid Basics
What is financial aid?
Financial aid is money to help students and families pay for college. Your financial aid offer is based on a combination of factors, including your (and your family’s) financial situation and your academic record. Each student’s aid offer is unique – made up of different types of aid that help cover your college costs.
Need-Based Aid: Offered based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Need-based aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study jobs.
Merit-Based Aid: Awarded based on a student's academic achievements, typically in the form of scholarships.
Non-Need-Based Aid: Financial support that is not based on financial need, often as loans or scholarships.
Who is eligible for financial aid?
UVM awards need-based and merit-based financial aid based on a variety of factors. To ensure you’re considered for all available types of aid, we encourage United States citizens, permanent residents of the United States, and eligible noncitizens to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to apply for federal student aid, including grants, loans, and work-study funds. At UVM, it is also used to determine your eligibility for institutional need-based grant, scholarship and loan aid.
If you do not (or cannot) file the FAFSA, you will be considered for UVM merit-based scholarships based on your application for admission and academic record. You may also choose to seek out private education loans and scholarships offered by organizations, businesses, etc. Learn more about those options in the next few pages.
How is financial need calculated?
After you submit the FAFSA, your selected colleges will receive your official Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation and Federal Pell Grant eligibility. Schools use this information to determine how much and what types of financial aid you are eligible to receive.
Financial Need is a Calculation:
School's Cost of Attendance (minus) Your Student Aid Index = Your Financial Need
Top Tips for Completing the FAFSA from Financial Aid Insiders
Create or Confirm your FSA ID
Both students and parents will need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to complete the FAFSA. Visit studentaid.gov to create or verify your FSA ID. Each contributor (student, parent, or stepparent) must have their own FSA ID.
Complete the FAFSA
Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible at studentaid.gov. Be sure to include UVM’s school code, 003696, so UVM will receive it.
Double-Check Before Submitting
Review all information carefully. Make sure your name matches exactly what’s on your Social Security card. Small errors can delay processing.
Watch for Confirmation and Review Your Summary
After submitting, you’ll receive an email from the Department of Education confirming your FAFSA was sent to your specified schools. Log into studentaid.gov to review your FAFSA Submission Summary, which includes:
- A summary of the information you submitted
- Your Student Aid Index (SAI), which schools use to determine your financial need
- A notice if your FAFSA was selected for verification, a process where schools confirm the accuracy of your information