When living on campus at UVM, your financial aid offer is based on the fact that you will be billed for food and housing. As an RA, you will receive a credit to your student account paying for your housing (standard traditional double) and food (average food plan). Your financial aid will be adjusted based on this credit.

Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index = Financial Need

• Your Cost of Attendance at UVM is based on a calculation of tuition, fees, food and housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, miscellaneous personal expenses, transportation and loan fees.
• Your Student Aid Index (SAI) each year is calculated based on your family's financial circumstances as determined by your FAFSA. Becoming an RA does not change your SAI.
• Financial Need: This is what you receive need-based aid for in your financial aid offer. Since RAs earn free food and housing, your financial aid offer needs to factor in this credit. This is a federal requirement.* 

* Your aid offer may be reduced: We reduce aid offers in a way that is most beneficial to a student; first by reducing loans (portion covering financial need) before reducing work-study and need-based grants.

We encourage you to speak with one of our counselors about how becoming an RA will impact your aid, specific to your own situation.