Secure your future education: VSAC 2025-26 scholarships deadline ahead

Do you want money for college or career training for fall 2025? VSAC is your student aid source. For high school seniors and returning college students, time is running out to apply for any of the 150+ VSAC-administered scholarships and forgivable loans. If you don’t review VSAC's Scholarships & Forgivable Loans booklet VSAC 2025-2026 Scholarships booklet, you may miss out on free money.

Scholarships—like grants—are financial aid that you don’t need to pay back. Scholarships are offered by many different groups, organizations, and even individuals. They’re offered for all kinds of achievements—and to diverse student populations. They’re also usually competitive, with eligible applicants competing for a limited number of awards. 

But in Vermont’s “small pond,” you most likely have a higher chance of winning a scholarship than if you were competing nationwide. The VSAC scholarships booklet contains information about funding opportunities that are available only to Vermont residents whether they continue their education in-state or out-of-state and to students who will work in Vermont after graduation.

VSAC 2025-26 scholarship offers

Our 2025-26 scholarship booklet includes information on over 150 scholarships, including interest-free forgivable loans administered by VSAC, plus an additional 41 scholarships run by outside organizations. Here’s a peek at what’s inside.

Scholarships for niches and financial circumstances

There are scholarship opportunities for a wide range of academic interests. Some of the more common fields include:

• business
• technical industries
• public safety
• agriculture
• health care
• education

There may even be specific scholarships for your town or county, high school, or members of traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Students who are single parents may want to check out the Bernice Murray Scholarship, which covers up to $4,000 in child-care expenses for single parents who continue their education.

Scholarship awards from $500 to $6,500 and more + forgivable loans

Some scholarships offer one-time awards, while others are renewable, meaning the student can receive additional financial awards for each subsequent year of study. The annual award amounts generally range from $500 to $6,500, though there are some exceptions. Through VSAC's workforce development funding, forgivable loan programs are also available for students in the following fields:

• trades
• nurse faculty
• psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

These interest-free and forgivable loan programs generally cover the student’s full tuition, and they are similar to scholarships because the money awarded doesn't need to be paid back as long as you meet specific employment commitments. There are also generous tuition benefits for college students and students seeking training in non-degree programs, certificates, or continuing education who join the Vermont National Guard.

New scholarships for academic year 2025-2026

If you've used VSAC's scholarship booklet in prior years, you may want to take note of many VSAC-administered scholarships and loan programs that are brand-new for the 2025-2026 academic year. They are all marked with “New!” in the booklet.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that benefit students in particular communities:

• The Haskell Fund Scholarship, sponsored by The Haskell Fund, offers up to $3,000 annually to students who have attended or graduated from Middlebury Union High School and wish to pursue higher education or training in the trades.
• The Twin Valley Service to School and Community Scholarship, offers $2,000 to assist a Twin Valley Middle High School senior who is also a resident of Windham County or Bennington County and who has demonstrated a commitment to assisting others in their school and community.
• The Knight/Gibson Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Newbury Alumni Associaton, offers up to $1,000 to residents of Newbury, Vermont.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that are targeted to students pursuing particular fields of study:

• The Barre Fish and Game Club Scholarship, sponsored by the Barre Fish & Game Club, offers up to $1,500 annually, to support students who intend to pursue a degree in the field of wildlife conservation.
• The James B. Reardon Memorial Scholarship, established to honor the memory of Jim Reardon, former Commissioner of Finance and Management for the State of Vermont, offers up to $3,000 to students seeking an associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• The U.S. Senate Youth Program “Hearst” Scholarship, sponsored by United States Senate Youth Senate Program the offers up to $10,000 to a student who plans to a career in public service. 

VSAC scholarship deadlines and requirements: Apply now!

The application deadline for all VSAC-assisted scholarships is February 12, 2025. Most scholarships and forgivable loans require a completed FAFSA and Unified Scholarship Application (USA), plus a general essay. VSAC’s scholarships booklet covers any additional application requirements, such as recommendation letters or transcripts, for each individual scholarship. Deadlines and requirements for the non-VSAC scholarships vary. Start now so you can beat the deadline and finish early!

Download VsaC's Free Booklet

Anyone with questions is encouraged to talk with the VSAC outreach counselor at their school, visit VSAC Scholarships, or call 888-253-4819.

Unlocking opportunities with the Power of scholarships: Free Money!