Vermont Advancement Grant (formerly Vermont Non-Degree Grant)
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), on behalf of the State of Vermont
Need-based Vermont grant for residents taking non-degree courses or short-term job training that improve employability or introduce them to college.
- How much
- Varies with need, course cost and program type (annual maximum set by VSAC; not published)
- Who qualifies
- Vermont resident for 1 year before the class; not in high school (high school diploma or GED, or out of high school for at least 3 months); enrolled in a non-degree course or short-term training at a VSAC-approved provider; no more than 6 terms total.
- For adults going back to school, trade school students
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Apply any time Rolling, first-come first-served while funds last; you can apply even after the course ends if it started in a year with funding left.
- How to apply
- Log in to MyVSAC, click 'Work with Grants', choose 'Apply for a Vermont Grant' and complete the Advancement Grant application, with the course name, cost and start date and your (or your parents') financial information
- Residents who can't file a FAFSA use the Advancement Grant Pathway application (PDF)
- What you'll need
- state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (vsac.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
For Vermont residents (one year of residency before the class starts) who are not enrolled in high school and are taking a non-degree (non-matriculated) course or short-term training program at a school or business approved by VSAC that improves job skills or encourages further study. The amount depends on financial need, course cost, program type (up to a maximum set each year) and timing, since funds are awarded first-come, first-served. Limits: up to 2 courses per enrollment term, up to 2 terms per financial year (July 1-June 30) and 6 terms total; not the same course twice; not in the same semester as a Vermont Incentive or Part-Time Grant. Not eligible: correspondence, self-improvement, recreational, peer-review or test-prep courses, courses outside the U.S., and GED exam fees. You can apply after a course has ended as long as it began in a year with funding left. The grant is paid to the school after it verifies enrollment.
More money from Vermont
- Governor Phil Hoff Vermont Honor Scholarship$1,000 (one-time)
- 802Opportunity (free tuition at Community College of Vermont)Full CCV tuition plus the $125 administrative fee (combined with Pell and Vermont grants)
- Freedom & Unity (free tuition at Vermont State University)Full general tuition at Vermont State University (combined with Pell, Vermont and institutional grants)
- Vermont Grant (Vermont Incentive Grant and Part-Time Grant)Varies; eligible students received $1,000 to $15,350 for 2025-2026
- Vermont Micro Grant (emergency micro grant)Not published (small emergency award)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.