Orange barLearn about your financial aid package.

Information in this handbook is subject to change at any time based on changes to federal and/or institutional policies and regulations.

To stay up-to-date on relevant information and notifications, be sure to check your UVM email; as it is UVM's official method of communication.

Applying for Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only financial aid application required by the University of Vermont. In order to ensure consideration for all available sources of need-based financial aid, your FAFSA must be submitted online prior to our financial aid deadlines as listed below:

Filing a paper FAFSA is not recommended as paper FAFSAs take significantly longer to process. If you chose to file the paper FAFSA, your FAFSA must be received by the federal processor prior to the financial aid deadline.

Complete Verification

  • UVM will verify all files that have been selected by the federal processor for a process called "verification" who have financial need or submit a case for a "special circumstance", and you will be required to provide additional information in order for your financial aid eligibility to be determined.
  • Your financial aid eligibility cannot be determined until the verification process is complete. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you will be notified by email of any required information that you must submit. The specific information requested will vary from student to student, so you will need to carefully review the requirements added to your account to determine what additional information you must submit. View your financial aid status and requirements through UVM's secure online system.
  • The deadline for students to complete the verification process is June 15, 2023 or 30 days after the student's last date of enrollment, whichever is earlier.
  • We will make every effort to offer financial aid to all eligible students; however we cannot guarantee financial aid to students who submit documentation after the deadline. Failure to supply all requested documentation by the deadline may result in a loss of eligibility for federal, state, and University financial aid.

How Your Financial Aid Offer Was Determined

Your financial aid offer may include funds from several sources.

  • Funds labeled 'Federal' financial aid were offered strictly on the basis of information you and your family provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These may include a combination of grants, loans, and work study, which is a federally funded, part-time job program.
  • Eligibility for these funds is determined by calculating your cost of attending UVM and subtracting the amount the federal processor has estimated your family can contribute to those costs (your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC).
  • We offer federal financial aid funds in amounts that takes into account the funding available to us and the maximum federal eligibility levels for each student.
  • In most cases, federal funding sources are not adequate to fund the entire difference between a student's cost of attendance and the federal estimate of the family's contribution (EFC).

Vermont State Grant Funds

The Vermont State Grant Program is administered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC).

  • A separate application for a Vermont Grant is required and Vermont students are encouraged to apply for grants and scholarships through VSAC each year. Eligibility for Vermont Grants are determined by VSAC.
  • UVM Student Financial Services does not play a role in determining eligibility.

Other State Grant Funds

Eligibility for state grants is determined by the state grant agency that awards these funds.

  • State grant funds are considered as a resource when determining financial need and eligibility for UVM need-based grant assistance.
  • In most cases, receipt of a state grant will result in a reduction to UVM grant aid if a state grant is awarded or changed after UVM assistance has been offered.
  • UVM Student Financial Services does not play a role in determining eligibility.

UVM Funds

Eligibility for UVM need-based assistance is determined by the FAFSA EFC (expected family contribution) and the strength of the students academic records, as determined by Admissions.

  • University need-based assistance make be in the form of grants, scholarships, and/or loans.
  • Students are automatically considered for UVM merit-based scholarships based on their admission application.
  • Merit scholarships will be included in the financial aid offer for all students who qualify.

Scholarships and Other Assistance

Following Federal guidelines, SFS is required to take all financial resources into account when determining your financial aid eligibility.

  • Under University policy, students cannot receive any combination of Federal and/or Institutional Funds (loans, grants, or scholarships), greater than the cost of attendance.
  • If you receive an outside scholarship, University scholarship, athletic grant, tuition remission from your or your parent's employer, private educational loan, or any other form of assistance you must notify our office in writing or by email of this resource as soon as you are informed of this outside assistance and include any relevant documentation.
    • In most cases, we reduce need-based loans and work study programs before adjusting any need-based grant or University scholarship assistance.
    • In some cases, if the amount of your additional resource is higher than your need-based loans and work study programs, we may be required to reduce your need-based grant and/or scholarship funds.
  • Once notified of your additional assistance, we will make an adjustment to your aid offer and send you a new aid offer notification.
  • Timely notification to our office is important, since notifying our office late in the process may result in an inconvenient adjustment to your financial aid offer once classes have begun.
  • Following Federal guidelines, graduate tuition assistance and New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) tuition assistance will be considered a direct resource to the family.
    • In most cases, receipt of these funds will result in a reduction of University funding (grants, scholarship, and/or loans).

How to Read and Accept Your Financial Aid Offer

Incoming Students

  • Once UVM receives your FAFSA from the US Department of Education, you will receive an email confirmation from our office. We begin retrieving FAFSA records in mid-November, so you will not receive notification prior to that time.
  • You will receive an email when your financial aid offer is available online. Please note that you will not receive an offer letter by mail. Please review Step 4 for when you can expect to receive your financial aid offer. After receiving the email, log in to view the status of your offer online.
  • If any additional information is needed, notification will be sent by email instructing you how to access this information through UVM's secure website.
    • A tentative aid offer is an estimate only and will not be made official until all requested information has been submitted and reviewed.
  • If you are admitted to UVM, choose to enroll and then pay your Acceptance Fee, you will receive instructions from Student Financial Services on how to log into the myUVM Portal, the system for current UVM students to access their student records and information.
  • If you plan on attending UVM, you will be required to log in to accept and/or decline your aid offers once you have an official offer.
  • Once you are at the 'accept/decline' webpage, there will be a series of steps to follow as part of the accept/decline process, including reviewing and acknowledging the Student Certifications associated with your aid offer. No offers may be accepted or declined until June.

Current Students

  • Beginning in mid-June, after any requested information has been received and reviewed by Student Financial Services, you will receive an official aid offer.
  • You will receive an email sent to your UVM email account prompting you to log in to the myUVM Portal to view your official aid offer and to accept and/or decline your aid.
  • To log in, use your NetID and password.
  • Once you are at the 'accept/decline' webpage, there will be a series of steps to follow as part of the accept/decline process, including reviewing and acknowledging the Student Certifications associated with your aid offer.

If you do not have internet access, please contact Student Financial Services at (802) 656-5700.

Rights & Responsibilities of a Federal Student Aid Applicant or Recipient

As a student financial aid recipient, it is your responsibility to:

  • Complete and submit application materials to the appropriate agencies prior to any applicable deadlines.
  • Provide complete and accurate information in applying for financial aid and understand that any false statements could be cause for denial, reduction, withdrawal or required repayment of financial aid.
  • Review any messages associated with your financial aid offer and accept and/or decline your financial aid offer promptly, once the accept/decline options have been made available.
  • Monitor your UVM email address and read all emails and materials sent to you from Student Financial Services and other agencies offering you aid. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you sign.
  • Respond promptly to any requests from Student Financial Services for additional information or action.
  • Understand that a financial aid offer is subject to change based on: correction of computational errors; changes in availability of funds; changes and/or corrections to any information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); changes to enrollment status or academic standing; receipt of financial assistance not listed in your aid offer. Examples of financial assistance include tuition remission, scholarships, grants, and any other funding not know at the time of the financial aid offer generation.
  • Understand that if you have been offered a scholarship or loan from funds that were donated to the University of Vermont, your name, major and address will be released to the donor of the funds.
  • Know and comply with the rules governing the aid you receive. These rules include but are not limited to:
    • You must not be in default on any prior educational loan.
    • You must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant, Federal SMART Grant or Federal TEACH Grant.
    • You may not borrow in excess of the loan limits established under Title IV.
    • You may not receive financial aid for audited courses or credit by examination.
    • Promptly sign any required promissory notes and complete any required entrance counseling for any loans you wish to borrow.
    • Comply with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign.
    • Complete the registration process each semester by the end of the drop/add period in order to ensure availability of all student aid funds you have been offered.
    • Use student financial aid proceeds solely for educational costs and related living expenses.
    • Know that all sources of financial aid will be credited to your student account. This process is run on a nightly basis. If the financial aid overpays your account a refund will be issued by direct deposit (once the student has set this up). In the case where a parent has borrowed a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, any credit balance refund, up to the amount of the PLUS loan will be payable to the parent borrower, via paper check, unless UVM Student Financial Services has received authorization from the parent borrower to release those funds to the student. This authorization may be given by the parent during the application process, or may be given to Student Financial Services in writing any time before the refund is processed.
    • Know the impact that dropping a course or withdrawing from the University of Vermont will have on your student financial aid.
    • Understand that students who are receiving federal financial aid funds must make satisfactory academic progress towards completing their degree program in a timely manner.
    • Understand that student financial aid recipients who do not receive any passing grades in a semester as a result of non-attendance will have their aid adjusted according to federal regulations and may be required to repay part or all of the federal/state student aid funds received.
    • Notify Student Financial Services of any changes to your enrollment status, including changes to your course load or student status.
    • Keep your local and permanent addresses current in the myUVM portal.
    • Report sources of any financial assistance not listed in your aid offer to Student Financial Services at the address below. Please submit a copy of any outside scholarship award letters to the Office of Student Financial Services:
University of Vermont
Office of Student Financial Services
223 Waterman Building
Burlington, VT 05405
FAX: (802) 656-4076

 

As a student financial aid recipient, you have the right to:

  • Know the correct procedures for applying for student financial aid, your cost of attendance, and the types of aid available.
  • Know how financial need is determined, how academic progress is determined, and what you have to do to continue receiving aid.
  • Know the type and amount of assistance you will receive and how and when you will receive your aid funds.
  • View the contents of your student financial aid file, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
  • Know the conditions of any loan you accept.
  • Know the terms, conditions, and pay rate for any student job you accept under the Federal Work Study Program.
  • Notify Student Financial Services of any extenuating circumstances that may affect your family’s financial circumstances and request a re-evaluation of your financial aid eligibility. Any re-evaluations are subject to available funding.
  • If you are a Federal Pell Grant recipient and your Title IV funds (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan) are eligible for disbursement* 10 days before the first day of classes for the semester, and those Title IV funds would overpay your qualified charges, a financial aid refund will be issued by the 7th day of the payment period to assist you in purchasing books and supplies. The refund will be the lesser of your anticipated Title IV credit balance (based on your current enrollment) or $50 per credit for the number of credits in which you are enrolled. If applicable, your refund will be issued in the manner described above under student aid recipient responsibilities. You may contact Student Financial Services in writing to request that your refund not be issued and that the credit balance be held on your UVM student account.

*Eligible for disbursement means that you have accepted the funds and completed all required promissory notes, entrance counseling or other requirements associated with your aid.

Academic Withdrawal

If you decide to withdraw from a class after the beginning of classes for an academic period, please contact Student Financial Serivces prior to your withdrawl.

  • The financial aid offered to you is based on the expectation that you will remain enrolled in the entire semester.
  • If you withdraw, we need to calculate how much of your Federal Student Aid you have earned and return any unearned funds to the Department of Education.
  • During the fall and spring semesters, the Withdrawal period begins immediately after the Add/Drop period ends and lasts until two business days after the 60% point of the semester.
  • During the summer and winter sessions, the Withdrawal period varies from course to course depending on when the class begins and how long it runs. For these sessions, contact Professional and Continuing Education to find out more about when the Withdrawal period ends for your specific course.
  • When you withdraw from a course it remains on your permanent record. Any courses you withdraw from will be assigned a grade of "W" which will appear on your transcript but will not affect your GPA.
  • You will not be refunded the full tuition amount if you withdraw from a course. The amount you will be refunded is dependent on the date you withdraw. 

For more information on the online course withdrawal process, visit the UVM Registar's Office website.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards for Undergraduate Financial Aid Recipients

Recipients of federal, state and UVM need-based student aid retain eligibility by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

  • UVM is required to have a written policy that is published and available to all students. The SAP policy must be the same as or more strict than the academic policy that is applied to students enrolled in the same program who are not receiving federal student aid.
  • The SAP policy must include a quantitative measure (maximum time frame and pace of completion), qualitative measure (GPA), and must determine the regular intervals when SAP will be measured. The policy must address the treatment of remedial and ESL courses, audited and pass/fail credits, incompletes, transfer, consortium, second degree and second major courses, and withdrawals.

Quantitative Standard

Students must maintain at least the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) listed below for their college and major:

  • Maximum time frame: For an undergraduate program, the maximum time frame cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program in credit hours attempted.
  • The majority of UVM's undergraduate programs require 120 credits for graduation; for these programs, the maximum timeframe is 180 attempted credits.
  • For programs requiring more than 120 credits for graduation, the maximum timeframe is determined by multiplying the number of credit hours required for graduation by 150% and rounding down to the nearest whole integer. For example:

    If the credits required for graduation are:The maximum timeframe is:
    120180 attempted credits
    121181 attempted credits
    124186 attempted credits
    126189 attempted credits
    130195 attempted credits

     

  • The maximum time frame is not extended for students who change majors, pursue a double major and/or double minor.

  • For students pursuing a double major, the maximum timeframe is based on the program which requires the fewest credits for graduation. Students who have not declared a major are held to the 180 attempted credit maximum.

  • Maximum timeframe is based on credits required to graduate as provided to Student Financial Services annually from each College's Dean's Office.

  • Pace: Undergraduate students must earn at least 67% (cumulative) of the credit hours they attempt.

  • Attempted credits: A credit hour is considered attempted if a student is officially registered for the credit at the conclusion of the drop/add period for the applicable term or module except that:

  • A credit is considered attempted if the credit is officially added after the conclusion of the drop/add period (a retroactive add).

  • A credit is not considered attempted if a student is officially registered for a credit hour at the conclusion of the drop/add period for the applicable term/module but the course professor or dean's office subsequently certifies that the student never attended the course and as a result the credit is retroactively dropped.

Qualitative Standard

Students must maintain at least the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) listed below for their college and major:

CollegeMajorMinimum Cumulative GPA
Agriculture and Life SciencesAll2.00
Arts and SciencesAll 2.00
Education and Social ServicesAll 2.00
Engineering and Mathematical SciencesComputer Science, Computer Science & Information Systems, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics2.00
 All others, including undeclared, if admitted Fall 2017 or later2.00
 All others, including undeclared, if admitted prior to Fall 20172.30
Nursing & Health SciencesAthletic training3.00
 Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiation Services, Radiation Therapy, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Health Sciences2.30
 Professional Nursing2.80
 Undeclared2.00
 All others2.50
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesAll2.00
Grossman School of Business AdministrationAll2.00

Students who are pursuing a double major with majors that have different cumulative GPA requirements for financial aid are held to the higher cumulative GPA requirement.

Incompletes and Withdrawals
Grades of I and W are counted as courses attempted but not earned and count towards the maximum time frame.

Audited Courses
Students do not earn any academic credit for audited courses. They do not count in the calculation of GPA, attempted or earned credits. Note that financial aid is not available to assist with courses taken for audit.

Pass/Fail Courses
These hours count toward the total of attempted and, if passed, earned hours.

Repeated Courses
A course is repeated when a student takes the same course, with the same content, more than once. Content, not course subject, number and title, determines whether a course is being repeated. (For example, a student who takes Classics 096/Special Topics in the fall and spring terms is not repeating the course if the fall course studies Plato and the spring course studies The Aeneid.) In cases where the course subject and number repeat but new content is provided, the course is not considered to be repeated and all attempts of the course are included when calculating a student's GPA and attempted and earned credit hours.

When a course is repeated on or after August 30, 2020:

  • The GPA calculation will only include the grade for the repeated course (regardless of whether the grade is higher or lower).
  • A student may not earn credits twice for the same course - therefore:
    • When both attempts are taken at UVM, the credit hours for both attempts are counted in the calculation of attempted credits
      • If a student successfully passes both attempts, the calculation of earned credits includes only one attempt;
      • If a student does not successfully complete the repeat course, the calculation of earned credits does not include either attempt and the calculation of attempted credits includes both attempts;
      • If a student successfully completes the repeated course, the calculation of earned credits includes only the successful attempt and the calculation of attempted credits includes both attempts.
    • Any credit for previously transferred coursework that is repeated at UVM will be removed from the transfer credits and only the credits for the repeated attempt are included in the calculation of attempted and earned credits.

Academic Amnesty
For the purposes of determining Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid purposes, all courses and grades for courses that are granted academic amnesty are still considered when determining whether a student meets the quantitative and qualitative standards.

Transfer/Consortium Credits
Transfer credits are counted as hours attempted and earned. Transfer credits are not factored when calculating a student's GPA.

Credits earned before enrolling in a degree program
Credits taken while a non-degree students at UVM but which apply toward a student's undergraduate degree are included in the calculation of a student's attempted and earned credits and when calculating a student's GPA.

Remedial and ESL courses
These hours count as both attempted and, if passed, earned hours, as well as in the GPA calculation.

Process
Each financial aid recipient's progress is reviewed annually, at the conclusion of the spring semester. Students are measured against both qualitative and the quantitative standards. Students are responsible for notifying Student Financial Services of any grade changes which occur after grade processing and satisfactory academic progress evaluations are complete.

If a student is not meeting the standard, the student's eligibility for federal, state and UVM need-based aid is terminated. The student is notified that their eligibility has been terminated. The student's College Student Services Office is also notified. The notice provides students information about the SAP standards and how the student can appeal the decision to terminate their aid eligibility.

If a student was previously placed on financial aid warning (under policies in place during prior aid years), their progress will be reviewed at the end of their warning term.

If a student was placed on probationary status, their progress will be reviewed after each term that the student is enrolled in classes.

Financial Aid Probation
Financial Aid Probation status is assigned to a student who has failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and whose financial aid eligibility has been reinstated based on a successful appeal. During a period of financial aid probation, a student who meets all other eligibility requirements remains eligible for federal, state, and UVM need-based aid. When a student's appeal is granted, financial aid probation is granted for one or more semesters based on an academic plan provided as part of the student's appeal. Student's remain on financial aid probation provided they comply with the terms of their academic plan. Their progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester.

Appeals
Students may appeal a termination of financial aid based on failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students are advised to appeal as soon as possible after receipt of their termination notice. All appeals must be submitted in writing using the UVM SAP Appeal Form, must clearly document why the student failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, what has changed that will allow the student to meet the standards, and must be accompanied by an academic plan, signed by their College Student Services Office or academic advisor which indicates the specific actions the student will take to meet the standard and when the student will meet the standard. Complete appeal forms along with the academic plan and supporting documentation should be submitted to Student Financial Services.

The appeal is reviewed by a committee from the office of Student Financial Services. The decision of the committee is final.

If you register or are registered for courses for another semester before submitting an appeal or while an appeal is pending, you should prepare to pay for these courses without federal, state or UVM need-based financial aid.  UVM’s tuition refund schedule and add/drop deadlines apply, even if you have a pending Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal.  The last day an appeal will be accepted, for the Fall and Spring term, is the last day of the add/drop deadline. For the Summer term, appeals must be submitted by the first add/drop deadline among the courses for which the student is registered or by May 31st, whichever is later. If an appeal is presented after this timeline it may be automatically denied.

If the appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Satisfactory Academic Probation contingent upon successful completion of the academic plan provided as part of their appeal. The student shall remain on probation provided they comply with their academic plan, until they meet UVM's Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.

If the appeal is denied, the student can continue to attend UVM, but it would be at their own expense.

The student and their College Student Services Office will be notified of the outcome of the appeal.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
A student whose financial aid eligibility has been terminated for failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and who is subsequently found to be meeting the SAP standards and who meets all other eligibility requirements shall be eligible for federal, state, and UVM need-based aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards for Graduate Financial Aid Recipients

Recipients of federal, state and UVM need-based student aid retain eligibility by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

  • UVM is required to have a written policy that is published and available to all students. The SAP policy must be the same as or more strict than the academic policy that is applied to students enrolled in the same program who are not receiving federal student aid.
  • The SAP policy must include a quantitative measure (maximum time frame and pace of completion), qualitative measure (GPA) and must determine the regular intervals when SAP will be measured. The policy must address the treatment of remedial and ESL courses, audited and pass/fail credits, incompletes, transfer, consortium, second degree and second major courses, and withdrawals.

Quantitative Measure

Maximum time frame: Students must complete a Master's degree within five years of matriculation to the program. Students in a Doctorate Degree program must complete their degree within nine years of matriculation to the program.

Pace: Students must earn at least 67% (cumulative) of the credit hours they attempt.

Attempted credits: A credit hour is considered attempted if a student is officially registered for the credit at the conclusion of the drop/add period for the applicable term or module except that:

  • A credit is considered attempted if the credit is officially added after the conclusion of the drop/add period (a retroactive add).
  • A credit is not considered attempted if a student is officially registered for a credit hour at the conclusion of the drop/add period for the applicable term/module but the course professor or dean's office subsequently certifies that the student never attended the course and as a result the credit is retroactively dropped.

Qualitative Standards

  • Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0.

Incompletes and Withdrawals

  • Grades of I and W are counted as courses attempted but not earned and count toward the maximum time frame.

Grades of "XC" (Extended Credit) and "M" (Missing)

  • Credits for which the grade is XC or M are neither earned nor attempted. As of the fall 2010 semester, the grade of XC is no longer permitted.

Audited Courses

  • Students do not earn any academic credit for audited courses. They do not count in the calculation of GPA, attempted or earned credits. Note that financial aid is not available to assist with courses taken for audit.

Pass/Fail Courses

  • These hours count toward the total of attempted and, if passed, earned hours.

Repeated Courses

  • A course is repeated when a student takes the same course, with the same content, more than once. Content, not course subject, number and title, determines whether a course is being repeated. (For example, a student who takes Classics 096/Special Topics in the fall and spring terms is not repeating the course if the fall course studies Plato and the spring course studies The Aeneid.) In cases where the course subject and number repeat but new content is provided, the course is not considered to be repeated and all attempts of the course are included when calculating a student's GPA and attempted and earned credit hours. The Registrar's Office identifies repeated coursework.

When a course is repeated on or after August 30, 2020:

  • The GPA calculation will only include the grade for the repeated course (regardless of whether the grade is higher or lower).
  • A student may not earn credits twice for the same course - therefore:
    • When both attempts are taken at UVM, the credit hours for both attempts are counted in the calculation of attempted credits
      • If a student successfully passes both attempts, the calculation of earned credits includes only one attempt;
      • If a student does not successfully complete the repeat course, the calculation of earned credits does not include either attempt and the calculation of attempted credits includes both attempts;
      • If a student successfully completes the repeated course, the calculation of earned credits includes only the successful attempt and the calculation of attempted credits includes both attempts.
    • Any credit for previously transferred coursework that is repeated at UVM will be removed from the transfer credits and only the credits for the repeated attempt are included in the calculation of attempted and earned credits.

Academic Amnesty

  • For the purposes of determining Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid purposes, all courses and grades for courses that are granted academic amnesty are still considered when determining whether a student meets the quantitative and qualitative standards.

Transfer/Consortium Credits

  • Transfer credits are counted as hours attempted and earned. Transfer credits do not impact a studen'ts cumulateive GPA.

Credits earned before enrolling in a degree program

  • Credits taken while a non-degree students at UVM but which apply toward a student's graduate degree are included in the calculation of a student's attempted and earned credits and when calculating a student's GPA.

Remedial and ESL courses

  • These hours count as both attempted and, if passed, earned hours, as well as in the GPA calculation.

Process

  • Each financial aid recipient's progress is reviewed annually, at the conclusion of the spring semester.
  • Students are measured against both the qualitative and the quantitative standards.
  • Students are responsible for notifying Student Financial Services of any grade changes which occur after grade processing and satisfactory academic progress evaluations are complete.
  • If a student is not meeting the standard, the student's eligibility for federal, state and UVM need-based aid is terminated. The student is notified that their eligibility has been terminated. The student's Dean's Office is notified also. The notice provides students information about the SAP standards and how the student can appeal the decision to terminate their aid eligibility.
  • If a student was previously placed on financial aid warning (under policies in place during prior aid years), their progress will be reviewed at the end of their warning term.
  • If a student was placed on probationary status, their progress will be reviewed after each term that the student is enrolled in classes.

Financial Aid Probation

  • Financial Aid Probation status is assigned to a student who has failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and whose financial aid eligibility has been reinstated based on a successful appeal.
  • During a period of Financial Aid Probation, a student who meets all other eligibility requirements remains eligible for federal, state, and UVM need-based aid.
  • When a student's appeal is granted, Financial Aid Probation is granted for one or more semesters based on an academic plan provided as part of the student's appeal.
  • A student will remain on Financial Aid Probation provided they comply with the terms of their academic plan.
  • If a student is on Financial Aid Probation, his/her progress is reviewed at the end of each semester.

Appeals

  • Students may appeal a termination of financial aid based on failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Students are advised to appeal as soon as possible after receipt of their termination notice.
  • All appeals must be submitted in writing using the UVM SAP Appeal form, must clearly document why the student failed to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, what has changed that will allow the student to meet the standards, and must be accompanied by an academic plan, signed by their Student Services Office or academic advisor which indicates the specific actions the student will take to meet the standard and when the student will meet the standard.
  • Complete appeal forms along with the academic plan and supporting documentation should be submitted to Student Financial Services.
  • All appeals are reviewed by a committee from the Office of Student Financial Services. The decision of the committee is final.
  • If you register or are registered for courses for another semester before submitting an appeal or while an appeal is pending, you should prepare to pay for these courses without federal, state, or UVM need-based financial aid.
  • UVM's tuition refund schedule and add/drop deadlines apply, even if you have a pending Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal.
  • The last day an appeal will be accepted, for the Fall and Spring semester, is the last day of the add/drop deadline. For the Summer session, appeals must be submitted by the first add/drop deadline among the courses for which the student is registered or by May 31st, whichever is later.
  • If an appeal is presented after this timeline it may be automatically denied.
  • If the appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Satisfactory Academic Probation contingent upon successful completion of the academic plan provided as part of their appeal.
  • The student shall remain on probation provided they comply with their academic plan, until they are meeting the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
  • If the appeal is denied, the student can continue to attend the University, but it would be at their own expense.
  • The student and the graduate college will be notified of the outcome of the appeal.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility

  • A student whose financial aid eligibility has been terminated for failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and who is subsequently found to be meeting the SAP standard(s) and who meets all other eligibility requirements shall be eligible for federal, state, and UVM need-based aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards for College of Medicine Financial Aid Recipients

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to remain enrolled as candidates for the M.D. degree.

Academic progress for medical students is closely monitored by the Larner College of Medicine Committee on Advancement. The specific standards by which the Committee on Advancement operates are detailed within the Medical Student Handbook.

To learn more, visit uvm.edu/medicine for the SAP policy.

Financial Aid Eligibility and Illegal Drug Use

The Department of Education (ED) implemented changes to the FAFSA to remove the drug conviction criteria beginning with the 2021-2022 aid year as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

While the criteria has changed around receiving student aid, we know there are health risks associated with illegal drug use. The University of Vermont is committed to the health, safety, and success of our students. Please visit the Center for Student Conduct for the University policy on Alcohol, Cannabis, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use. UVM is committed to assisting students through educational programs and services. Please visit UVM's Substance Misuse Resources for more information.

Study Abroad and Aid

Your financial aid will be re-evaluated if you choose to enroll in a study abroad program, and your aid offer will be based on the cost of your study abroad program.

  • If less expensive than the same period of enrollment at UVM, your total aid will be reduced.
  • If more expensive than the same period of enrollment at UVM, your total aid will be increased.
  • Generally, loans will be offered to cover the additional cost.
  • Please note that most UVM Grant and Scholarship assistance may only be used for UVM sponsored exchange programs (including ISEP Exchange, but not ISEP-Direct), or a UVM semester abroad program (Costa Rica program and the Buckham Overseas program). These programs are generally referred to as "internal" programs. Institutional aid is not available for programs classified as approved external programs by the Office of International Education.

Summer Study and Aid

The Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Program and the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program allow borrowing for summer study provided you have loan eligibility remaining from the prior academic year.

  • You must be enrolled in at least six credits during the summer session to be considered for these Federal Direct Loan Programs.
  • Federal Pell Grants may be available to students who qualify based on enrollment status and financial need.
  • In order to be considered for summer aid, you must complete the FAFSA for the prior academic year.
  • After registering for summer courses you will receive an email from Student Financial Services with a link to further information regarding summer financial aid options.

Reapplying for Aid

Students are required to complete the FAFSA every year to be considered for financial aid each year.

  • Since family circumstances may change, your financial aid eligibility must be determined annually.
  • There is no automatic renewal of financial aid offers at UVM.
  • Your FAFSA must be received each year by the Federal Processor based on UVM's financial aid deadlines.
  • A student whose FAFSA is received by the processor after specified deadlines may receive reduced levels of aid because priority for limited UVM financial aid funding is given to students who meet published deadlines.
  • Due to increased demand on financial aid resources, increases in tuition, housing, and meals, may not be met by additional grant assistance.
  • Student and parent loans may be awarded to assist in funding annual increases in the cost of attending the University.