Review financing options for non-degree students, including those enrolling as professional and continuing education students and those enrolling in certificate programs.
Non-Degree Financial Aid
The types of financial aid available to non-degree students varies based on the reason for enrollment. Please review the information below about various types of aid, and use our Non-Degree Financial Aid Decision Tree to determine the types of aid for which you may be eligible.
UVM also makes a monthly payment plan available to all students through a third party vendor. The payment plan is available for the fall and spring semesters. Learn more about the payment plan and other payment options on our Payment Options page.
Federal Aid (Subsidized/Unsubsidized and Parent PLUS Loans)
For non-degree students, all of the following must be true to be eligible for Federal financial aid:
- You must be taking qualifying courses, which only includes courses that are required for admission to your intended degree program and that you have not previously completed as a degree or non-degree student.
- Repeated courses do not count as qualifying coursework, even if you need better grades in the courses in order to be admissable to your intended degree program.
- Courses being taken to prove your general admissability to a degree program are not considered qualifying coursework unless those courses are specifically required for admission and you have not previously completed them.
- You must be taking at least 6 credits of qualifying coursework (see previous bullet for definition of qualifying coursework) in each term for which you are being considered for Federal aid eligibility.
- You must be within the maximum time frame of a single, consecutive, 12-month period for receiving Federal financial aid for non-degree coursework.
If you are unsure of your eligibility for Federal aid based on the criteria outlined above, please use our Non-Degree Financial Aid Decision Tree.
Types and amounts of Federal aid available to eligible non-degree students:
Eligible non-degree students may be eligible for Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, and parents of eligible dependent non-degree students may be eligible for a Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Please review information about the maximum amounts available, as well as the rates and terms on our Federal Loan Information page.
Next Steps to Apply for Federal Aid
- File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the academic year in which you will begin your coursework. Visit our How to Apply for Financial Aid page for more information about filing the FAFSA, monitoring your student account for additional requirements, and viewing your financial aid award.
- Contact your Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Advisor to complete a Non-Degree Course Certification for Federal Aid Eligibility form. You will work with your PACE advisor to complete this form and have it certified by either the UVM Graduate College or UVM Undergraduate Admissions. The form will then be used by Student Financial Services to determine your financial aid award.
Private Education Loans
Private education loans may be available through banks, credit unions or higher education authorities. Rates, terms and eligibility criteria will vary by lender. UVM does not promote or endorse any private education loan lenders. To help guide you, UVM offers a loan comparison tool to help you select the private educational loan that is best for you. ELMSelect (powered by a not-for-profit organization), offers a lender-neutral comparison tool allowing you to compare a historical list of lenders and products that our students and families have used.
Advancement Grant
VSAC offers an Advancement Grant to eligible Vermont residents who are not enrolled in high school and who are enrolled in a non-degree (non-matriculated) course or program that will improve their ability to get a job or that encourages further study. You must apply through VSAC to be considered for this grant.