Start Your Financial Journey
In case you are wondering what we do...
Student Financial Services (SFS) serves our UVM students and families the following ways:
- Billing office for tuition, fees, housing & meals, and related charges.
- Financial aid administration of both federal and institutional aid, along with administering the Federal work-study program
- Loan repayment office
- Process student and parent refunds
- Process both UVM and non-UVM (outside) scholarships
Steps to Success
Welcome to UVM Student Financial Services. We hope that you will take a moment to watch this short video welcoming you to our office and learn your next steps for a successful start to your financial journey at UVM.
Your Next Steps for Financial Aid and Your Student Bill
June: Finalize your financial aid, establish your proxy, and submit your health insurance
Review your financial aid offer and complete your next steps to accept or decline optional financial aid offers like work-study and direct student loans. June is a great time to complete this so that your accepted aid will show as a pending credit on your student bill.
By the end of June make sure you have also established a proxy to receive billing notifications and to view and pay to your student account and have completed your student health insurance decision.
Complete Your Tasks in the UVM Aid Verification Portal
You have received an email requesting that additional information is need to complete review of your financial aid application. View this guide for an overview of the UVM Aid Verification Portal and how to complete additional tasks that have been requested.
Submit Your Outside Scholarships
Congratulations on receiving a scholarship! Visit our page on submitting outside scholarship information for details on how to notify our office and send in your scholarship payments.
The Difference Between Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Use our guide to help understand the difference between a Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan. Explore more information about these loans on our Federal Direct Loan Information page or at StudentAid.gov.
How to Accept Your Financial Aid
Follow our guide for how to accept your financial aid here at UVM. For more tips on completing the accept and/or decline process visit, Step 5: Accept and Finalize Your Aid Offer on How to Apply for Financial Aid.
Complete Your Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement
You've already accepted your aid. Complete your Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Loan Agreement or Master Promissory Note (MPN) so your loans will pay to your student account by the bill due date.
Establish a Proxy for Your Account
If someone will be helping you through the financial aspects of your education, you'll want to establish them as a Proxy. Unless you have established a Proxy, our office will not be able to speak with anyone other than you about the details of your financial aid, billing, or federal tax information. Learn more about Proxy Access.
Complete the Online Health Insurance Decision/Waiver Form
Annually, students must complete the health insurance decision/waiver form by July 1. Learn more about insurance requirements and deadlines and how to access the form through the Center for Health and Wellbeing site.
Early July: Review your payment options
In early July, review and set up your payment options.
How Your Parent Can Apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
If your parent is planning to borrow through the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan to help finance your education, have them view this step-by-step guide. Find out the particulars for this loan at Federal Loan Information and then have them begin the process of Applying for a PLUS Loan through the Federal Student Aid website.
Learn More About Private Educational Loans
One option to consider when financing your education is a private educational loan. View our guide for an overview of private educational loans or visit private educational loans for considerations to ask when shopping around for a loan or to link to the loan comparison tool.
Learn More About Our Monthly Payment Plan Option
One payment option to consider is a monthly payment plan. View our step-by-step guide to learn about the plan and how to set one up. Learn more about the monthly payment plan option or other payment options you can consider to settle your bill.
Using Your 529 Plan
After you have reviewed your bill, you can request a payment from your 529 Administrator so that it is received prior to the billing due date. Review this guide to learn how to request your 529 payment from your Administrator and what we need to make sure your payment arrives on-time to your student account. For more information about 529 Plans and other ways to finance your UVM education please view our payment options.
Mid-July: Learn more about the Federal Work-Study Program and resolve your bill by the due date
If you are thinking of working this year you can start your job search. It's also a good time to take care of your bill before the due date, to avoid a financial hold preventing access to add courses and a late payment fee.
Learn More About the Federal Work-Study Program
Are you considering working this year? If yes, watch our guide on the federal work-study program and visit Student Employment's federal work-study page for more information.
How to Read and Respond to Your Bill
UVM bills are online. Billing notifications are sent to the student at their UVM email address and to anyone the student has established as a Proxy with account and billing access. Review this guide for help in reading and responding to your UVM bill. Learn more about available payment options to assist in paying for your UVM education and learn more about billing and payment due dates with helpful tips to respond to your bill.
By Mid-August: Set up direct deposit and other important information
If you haven't already, avoid holds which prevent access to adding a course and a late payment fee by taking care of your bill by the due date (see mid-July for a video). Make sure that you also set up direct deposit so you can receive your refund (if eligible) when its ready.
Set Up Direct Deposit to Receive Your Financial Aid Refund if Eligible
Get an overview of the financial aid refund process here at UVM and learn how to set up direct deposit so you can receive yours if eligible. You can learn more about it from our refund policy.
Understanding Tiered Housing and the Supplemental Room Charge or Credit
View this guide to learn more about tiered pricing and the supplemental room charge or credit you may have received. Learn more about this by visiting our additional fees and fines page. Learn more about room rates through Residential Life.
Understanding the Difference Between Dropping Versus Withdrawing from a Class
Are you considering dropping or withdrawing from one of your classes? If so, watch this guide to learn more about the difference between the two. The other important consideration is based upon the tuition refund schedule to determine what if any refund you will receive.
Catamount Family
- Become a key player in your student's success by viewing the family calendar (Vice Provost and Dean of Students Office) for yearly highlights.
- While UVM primarily will communicate with your student directly and encourages family communication, you can sign up to receive the Catamount Family Newsletter, sent from Vice Provost for Student Affairs. This is a monthly newsletter, tailored specifically for current parents and families and includes general advice and reminders, upcoming engagement opportunities, and important news from across the university.
- Learn about resources available to point your student towards success.
More Resources to Answer Your Questions
Financial Foundations
Join our knowledgeable representatives from the Student Financial Services office as they demystify billing and financial aid processes for incoming first-year and transfer students, along with families/supporters. This session is designed to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the billing and financial aid processes at UVM before the mid-July billing release date.
UVM Billing FAQs
Fall semester bills roll out to registered students in mid-July, and we know that you may have a few questions. Join us for an informative session where we address the top billing and financial aid questions that both students and parents have. Let’s ensure your financial confidence at UVM!
You'e Received Your Bill, Now What?
Expect to receive your Fall 2025 billing notification in your inbox, mid-July. In this helpful video, we’ll guide you through decoding your billing statement – including key dates and deadlines, navigating the statement, and covering your most FAQs.