Vermont Rural Health Transformation Tuition Benefit Program
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Human Services
Up to UVM in-state tuition (or a higher-cost Vermont State University program's) for nursing, mental health, allied health, EMS and dentistry students who commit to 5 years in rural Vermont healthcare.
- How much
- Up to UVM's in-state tuition (or a higher-cost Vermont State University program's tuition)
- Who qualifies
- At least half-time in an eligible health degree; 2.50 GPA; Vermont residents get priority; must commit to 5 years full-time (32+ hrs/week, no telehealth or travel nursing) in a Vermont healthcare setting serving a rural community.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school, transfer students
- For nursing, mental health counseling, social work students
- When to apply
- Open now · due February 10, 2027 2027-28 applications open October 1, 2026; the VSAC postmark/priority deadline is February 10, 2027, then first-come first-served until funds run out. (2026-27 funding is exhausted.)
- How to apply
- Submit the Unified Scholarship Application in MyVSAC ('Work with Scholarships & Tuition Benefit Programs')
- If you've already submitted one, click 'Add Rural Health Transformation Program' on the Scholarships page
- Send the FAFSA (non-residents upload the FAFSA Submission Summary), the general essay and a transcript
- Sign a Tuition Benefit Agreement if selected
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA + essay + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (vsac.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
New program from the Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services and VSAC, funded by part of Vermont's federal Rural Health Transformation award from CMS. It replaces VSAC's earlier state health-workforce forgivable loans (VTNURSE2, VTDENTIST, VTDHYGIENE). Eligible fields (undergraduate or graduate degree): allied health (dental hygiene, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy); mental health (clinical mental health, community mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, social work, psychology); nursing (LPN, associate, bachelor's, graduate including APRN/MSN); EMS/paramedicine (degree programs only); dentistry (graduate level). Requirements: enroll at least half time; minimum 2.50 GPA; Title IV school; not in a privately funded loan-forgiveness program or repaying a Vermont/private one; lifetime maximum of 4 years of funding. Vermont residents get priority; non-residents may apply. Award: up to UVM's in-state tuition (or the tuition of a higher-cost Vermont State University program), paid at actual tuition; may pay room, board and books if tuition is already covered. First-come, first-served.
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 Advancement Grant (formerly Vermont Non-Degree Grant)Varies with need, course cost and program type (annual maximum set by VSAC; not published)
- Vermont Grant (Vermont Incentive Grant and Part-Time Grant)Varies; eligible students received $1,000 to $15,350 for 2025-2026
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.