Planning for college or training next year? Apply for the Vermont Grant and explore VSAC’s free scholarship booklet to help you cover costs.
News & Updates for Education Professionals
Use these resources to support Vermont students and families in planning, saving, and paying for training and education.
VSAC offers the latest news and updates for educational professionals in Vermont. From financial aid trainings, educator tools, and VSAC workshops and publications, stay informed to support students, parents, or adult learners in their higher education journey.
Sign-up for our EdPro Newsletter.
Take Note of Changes to the FAFSA in 2023, for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a required form for any student who is applying for federal, state, or school-based financial aid, public or private loans, public or private scholarships, or merit aid at many institutions. There will be several changes to the FAFSA this year (for the 2024-2025 academic year) that are intended to make the form shorter and more user-friendly. Families who have filled out the FAFSA in prior years may notice some changes to language, terminology, and questions asked by the form. VSAC will be updating print and digital content, and working to help students and families learn about changes to the FAFSA, and how to navigate those changes. Stay tuned for more information.
Learn about the new FAFSA changes with VSAC's Focus on FAFSA one-pager or more detailed two-page PDF.
VSAC Curriculum Map for Education Professionals
VSAC has created nearly 100 learning activities to target social-emotional, academic, and postsecondary planning skills across grades 6-12. The VSAC Curriculum Map provides targeted academic and postsecondary planning skills that Vermont students in grades 6–12 will need in order to pursue education and career opportunities after high school. This framework reflects current research, best practice, and fieldwork that are great resources for:
- counselors
- school leaders
- teachers
- work-based learning coordinators
Preview & order your free VSAC print publications for 2024-2025
VSAC continues to offer bulk publications for students, parents, and education professionals free of charge. Visit VSAC's publication store to download the latest publications, or request print orders to your school or office, free of charge.
Please note: Although the deadline has passed for all VSAC-assisted scholarships, students can still apply for the scholarships that are administered by other organizations. Refer to the "Other Scholarships" section on pages 47–62 of the VSAC scholarship booklet for all deadlines through July 30th.
ORDER PUBLICATIONS & PLANNING CHECKLISTS
Financial Aid Opportunities
These three resources offer Vermont students and families additional funding opportunities for college or training.
- 802 Opportunity: Free tuition at CCV for students of any age with a family income of $75,000 or less.
- NEW Workforce Development Funding is now available to reduce or eliminate tuition for eligible students pursuing careers in critical fields such as skilled trades, nursing, mental health care, and more.
- Vermont grants: Eligible students have received from $1,000 to $14,000 for the 2023–2024 academic year. However, funding varies from year-to-year. Find the grant types, application, and a how-to video that walks you through the application.
Vermont grants
Don't let your Vermont students leave money on the table! Eligible students have received from $1,000 to $14,000 in Vermont grants for the 2022–2023 academic year. Encourage your students to:
- Watch the VSAC Shows You How to Complete VT Grant & Scholarship Applications. VSAC walks families through the Vermont state grant application, question-by-question. We also explain how to apply for any of the 120+ VSAC-assisted scholarships. View the recording and find additional resources.
- Apply for the Vermont grant. Those who have applied should check their MyVSAC account to be sure they've completed all steps.
- Complete the FAFSA.
- Check out VSAC's webinars and videos covering grants, scholarships, financial aid offers, loans and more.
New Workforce Development Funding available
The Vermont Legislature passed a historic bill in June 2022 which provides millions of dollars of state and federal funding to address Vermont’s workforce shortage. This new funding will reduce or eliminate tuition for eligible students pursuing careers in critical fields such as:
- skilled trades
- teaching
- nursing
- mental health care
- more
lEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
VSAC-assisted Scholarships
VSAC's scholarships booklet for students planning to attend college in 2024–2025 is now available online, and the Unified Scholarship Application (USA) can be completed by logging into MyVSAC.
- To receive copies for your students, schools must order bulk quantities on VSAC's Publications site.
- Your students and parents can also download or view VSAC's 2024-25 Scholarship book
.
Please note: Although the deadline has passed for all VSAC-assisted scholarships, students can still apply for other scholarships. Check pages 47–62 of the booklet for scholarships with deadlines open through July 30th.
How VSAC can help with the FAFSA
Your students and parents can:
- check out VSAC's FAFSA Filing Guide.
- ask a quick FAFSA question by calling our toll-free FAFSA helpline at 833-802-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm).
High schools: Did you know that you can use VSAC's FAFSA Completion Tool to identify students who haven't completed their financial aid applications? Contact our grants department (800-882-4166) to ask us how.
Looking for financial aid resources?
We have what you need for your students & parents.
Resources for students and parents planning for life after high school.
- Parents: Looking for a checklist to keep your high school junior or senior on track? View or download VSAC's Junior Year Month-By-Month Planning Checklist or Senior Year Month-By-Month Planning Checklist.
- Need help with the FAFSA & other financial aid? Start with VSAC's Focus on FAFSA.
- MyFutureVT: Get started on exploring education and career opportunities and pathways in Vermont.
- College & Career Pathways: find resources from the 2024 events.
Free print publications!
VSAC continues to offer free print publications for students, parents, and education professionals. This year, the FAFSA changes have required that we modify some of the printed pieces, thus creating a delay in the availability. View the lineup and order your supplies for the upcoming season.
Updated for 2024 academic year
Available now:
- Financial Aid brochure
- Vermont's Advancement Grant
- VSAC-assisted scholarships booklet
- Junior year monthly planning checklist
- Senior year monthly planning checklist
No changes for the 2024 academic year
- VSAC 2-pocket organizer
- VT 529 Savings Plan brochure
- My Education Loan Guide (What to know about loans)
- VSAC Private Loan brochure (for 2023-2024)
Digital only
VSAC's Educational Opportunity Center—easy as a phone call!
Do you know any adults who would like to take a step toward new career possibilities and aren’t sure where to begin? VSAC’s EOC services can help. Our counselors understand the needs of adult students and are ready to help individuals take steps in a new direction. All services are free.
Encourage your students or clients to make an appointment with one of VSAC's Educational Opportunity Center counselors today.
VSAC’s research continues to shape higher education policy in Vermont
VSAC releases survey results on COVID-19’s impact on VT students' plans to attend college in the fall.
View the latest reports, county fact sheets, and past survey results >
Zoom Rooms
VSAC's Zoom video conferences are geared toward adult learners interested in returning to school or training. Watch recordings of past topics, including:
- Short-Term Training Options
- Resources for Foster Youth
- Exploring Healthcare Careers
- TRIO - The Past, Present and Future
College & Career Pathways 2025
- Saturday, March 8, 1-5pm at UVM: public event for high school families
- Thursday, March 13, 9am-2pm at Landmark College: daytime event for pre-registered high schools
- Thursday, March 20, 9am-2pm at Saint Michael's College: daytime event for pre-registered high schools
- Monday, April 7, 8:45am-1:45pm at VTSU Lyndon Campus: daytime event for pre-registered high schools
- Wednesday, April 9, 8:45am-2pm at VTSU Castleton Campus: daytime event for pre-registered high schools
Get all the details at vsac.org/ccp.
2025 Transition & Career Planning Conference
The 20th Annual Transition and Career Planning Conference will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. We hope you'll be able to join us!
Here are some links that your families may find helpful:
NEBHE Admissions & Enrollment Information — Resources for school counselors, students and institutions
Virtual Admissions Events — alphabetical list of American colleges & universities; describes each school's virtual admissions events and provides web registration links
Strive Virtual College Exploration – Hundreds of free virtual workshops for students and parents including individual college info sessions and a wide range of college planning topics
Keys to Your Future Career & College Readiness Program – Free program for educators with virtual lessons for students on identifying life goals, preparing in high school, choosing a path, balancing daily life, starting a career, and success in a career
College Admission Status Updates — information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak
Khan Academy — SAT practice as well as other online learning
SAT On Demand—One Month Free from Kaplan — a free month of SAT On Demand to support all students with their distance learning
Free AP Programming from Kaplan — free AP prep sessions on YouTube live for AP US History, AP World History, and AP Biology. These sessions will focus on question review and include time to ask a teacher questions.
Sign-up for VSAC's Educational Professionals "EdPro" newsletter and stay informed of the latest news and updates so you can best support students, parents, and/or adult learners in their college and training journey.