Vermont benefits for college students
What Vermont students can get beyond financial aid: 3SquaresVT food assistance, Vermont Medicaid (Medicaid for Children and Adults, incl. Dr. Dynasaur; Green Mountain Care) health coverage, child care help, phone and internet discounts and tax credits, with each program's own rules and application. Each section links to the full rules.
Checked against official sources October 11, 2026. Some details were still changing when we checked, so confirm on the official page.
Food assistance: 3SquaresVT
Vermont's name for SNAP, run by Vermont Department for Children and Families, Economic Services Division. If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →
Health coverage: Vermont Medicaid (Medicaid for Children and Adults, incl. Dr. Dynasaur; Green Mountain Care)
Vermont has expanded Medicaid, so adults with low incomes, students included, can qualify based on income. All your health coverage options →
Child care help: Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP)
Going to college or training counts as an approved activity in this state. 'Is attending school or training' is one of CCFAP's accepted service needs (reasons for care); each primary caretaker in the household must have at least one. The state's public pages give no hours minimum or degree-level limit. Families must also use regulated child care, meet the income guidelines, live in Vermont, and have under $1 million in assets.
Apply for Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →
Phone and internet: Lifeline
Vermont Universal Service Fund (VUSF) assistance: The Department of Public Service says some Lifeline households 'may also qualify for additional assistance through Vermont's Universal Service Fund (VUSF), which provides a monthly discount on telephone service depending on the provider and plan.' No amount is given. Who qualifies →
Apply for Lifeline (Vermont Universal Service Fund (VUSF) assistance)
Taxes
Vermonters who get the federal EITC (or would but for an ID-number issue) get a state credit of 38% of the federal EITC if they claim qualifying children, or 100% of it if they don't (starting with tax year 2025). The Vermont Department of Taxes lists Free File partners (TaxAct, 1040.com, TaxSlayer, FreeTaxUSA, OLT and others) that let filers with AGI of $89,000 or less file federal and Vermont returns free, each with its own age/income limits; you must use the links on the state's page. Free volunteer tax preparation is also available around the state.
Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →
Keep looking
We explain programs; Vermont's agencies decide who gets them. Spot something wrong? Tell us.