Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only financial aid application UVM requires. Submit the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
To learn about specific types of aid which may be available, select your student type from the menu on the left.
Financial Aid Application Deadlines
To ensure consideration for all available sources of financial aid for the 2010-2011 school year, submit the FAFSA online after January 1, 2010 and before the dates below.
- February 10, 2010 for prospective undergraduate students
- March 1, 2010 for returning undergraduate students
- March 1, 2010 for all graduate and medical students (new and returning)
Step 1: Get started!
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only application UVM requires for undergraduate students to be considered for federal and university financial aid.
- Receive additional information for graduate, medical and continuing education students below.
- To be considered for all available funds, submit the FAFSA after January 1 and before our priority deadlines:
- FAFSA priority deadline for prospective undergraduate students: February 10
- FAFSA priority deadline for returning undergraduate students: March 1
- FAFSA priority deadline for new & returning graduate and medical students: March 1
- Taxes not done yet? You may estimate your income on the FAFSA. Be sure to update your FAFSA once your taxes are complete.
- After completing the FAFSA online, be sure to sign electronically with a PIN. Students and parents of dependent students must sign the FAFSA.
- You’ll need UVM’s federal school code, 003696, to have your FAFSA sent to us.
- Additional applications may be required for state grants and/or private scholarships.
- Vermont undergraduate and medical students should apply for a Vermont State Grant online at www.vsac.org
- Consider applying for external scholarships. Learn tips on searching for external scholarships.
Step 2: Monitor and complete your application
- Watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR): Once your FAFSA has been processed, you’ll receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) electronically if you filed online or by mail if your completed a paper FAFSA. Your SAR is a summary of the information reported on the FAFSA. Review your SAR for accuracy and review any messages. Make any necessary changes online.
- Watch for requests for information: You may receive requests for additional information from UVM and/or from state grant agencies. Please provide requested information as promptly as possible. Financial aid cannot be awarded until all requested information has been received. Please do not send information unless requested to do so. We are required to review all information submitted — if we receive unsolicited information it will delay processing of your financial aid award.
- Monitor your application: If additional information is needed, returning students will be notified by e-mail. Prospective students will receive a postcard. Check the status of your aid application.
- Please note that information is not shared between UVM and other agencies such as VSAC. If you receive requests from information from multiple sources, send the information requested to both agencies.
Step 3: Your financial aid award
- When: If your FAFSA was filed by our priority deadline and you have provided requested information promptly, your financial aid award will be available no earlier than:
- Early April for prospective students
- Early June for returning students.
- Where: Your financial aid award will be posted online.
- Prospective students login via admissions login to view awards.
- Active students (returning students and new students who have paid their enrollment fee) login via SIS to view awards.
- Prospective students who have filed a FAFSA but have not supplied all requested information will receive a tentative award notification in mid-April. A tentative award is based on the information reported on the FAFSA and will change once requested documentation is received and reviewed.
- Review your financial aid award carefully. Pay close attention to:
- What type of aid is available?
- Any estimated or tentative awards. Know why they are estimated and any action you need to take to make the estimated award an actual award.
- Comparing financial aid awards? Use our award comparison tool to help you determine which school would require the least amount of borrowing and/or out-of-pocket costs.
- Action is required. You must accept or decline any loan and/or work-study award offers.
- Report outside assistance: Financial assistance not listed on your award notice including private scholarships, tuition remission, employer tuition assistance, must be reported to UVM Student Financial Services. Report other financial assistance as soon as possible so we can provide you with the most accurate financial aid award. Find the scholarship notification form in the worksheet and forms section.
Step 4: Accept and finalize your awards
Action is generally required to accept the aid which you have been offered. To accept your aid, log into the Student Information System and navigate to "Student Financial Services" then "Financial Aid" and "Accept/Decline Award Offers." Please note that only active students can accept aid awards. If you are a prospective student you will need to pay your enrollment fee and accept your place in the class before you will be able to accept your aid awards.
- UVM grants and scholarships: These are generally accepted automatically with no action required. If you do not see these awards credited on your bill, contact Student Financial Services
- VSAC grants: A separate application is required for VSAC/Vermont State Grants. If your VSAC grant shows as "estimated," contact VSAC immediately to verify that they have received your application and any necessary documentation. If your VSAC grant is accepted and the amount matches your VSAC grant award letter, no action is required. Notify Student Financial Services of any discrepancy between information on your UVM award letter and information provided by VSAC.
- Subsidized and/or unsubsidized Stafford Loans
- Choose a lender.
- A Master Promissory Note (MPN) may be required. Contact your lender to initiate the application. (VSAC borrowers: UVM will contact VSAC on your behalf after you accept your loan.)
- First time borrowers, complete online Stafford Loan entrance counseling at the link below under "First Time Borrowers."
- Perkins Loan
- If this is your first UVM Perkins Loan, UVM will mail you a Perkins Loan Promissory Note. Complete and return to UVM Student Financial Services.
- First time borrowers, complete online Perkins Loan entrance counseling at the link below under "First Time Borrowers."
- Parent PLUS Loan
- The parent borrower should complete the PLUS loan worksheet and submit to UVM Student Financial Services.
- A Master Promissory Note (MPN) and credit check may be required. The parent borrower should contact their lender to initiate the loan application. (VSAC borrowers: UVM will contact VSAC on your behalf once we receive your completed PLUS Loan worksheet.)
- Graduate PLUS Loan
- Choose a lender.
- A Master Promissory Note (MPN) and credit check may be required. Contact your lender to initiate the loan application. (VSAC borrowers: UVM will contact VSAC on your behalf once you accept your loan.)
- First time borrowers, complete online Graduate PLUS Loan entrance counseling at the link below under "First Time Borrowers."
- Alternative Loans
- Research alternative loan options and lenders.
- Dependent students: If you are borrowing an alternative loan instead of the PLUS loan, make sure you have declined your PLUS loan offer.
- Contact your lender to apply
- First Time Borrowers
Step 5: Consider other important information
- For graduate students: In addition to the FAFSA, you must submit the Graduate Student Data form to Student Financial Services. Our Worksheets and Forms section.
- For medical students: The FAFSA will instruct you to provide information about yourself (and your spouse if applicable), and that is all that is required for federal financial aid. However, you are strongly encouraged to report parent information on the FAFSA as well. Parental financial information must be reported on the FAFSA if you wish to be considered for the Primary Care Loan, Maine Access Loan, and University of Vermont need-based scholarships. Parental information will not be considered in determining your eligibility for federal funds (i.e., Stafford Loan), therefore it does not hurt you in any way to provide this information, it only increases the possibility of being considered for more financially attractive funds.
- Continuing Education students: Federal and university financial aid funds are generally limited to degree seeking students. In limited circumstances, continuing education students may qualify for limited Stafford and/or Parent PLUS Loan funds. Please review aid availability for your specific program type.Vermont CE students are also encouraged to contact VSAC and apply for a Vermont non-degree grant.
Step 6: Consider these important timelines
Last modified September 16 2009 11:26 AM
