VSAC's online portal (MyVSAC) will be unavailable Sunday, February 26th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. while we perform system maintenance. We appreciate your patience.
COVID-19 updates & ways VSAC can help
Our commitment to you hasn’t changed, but some of the ways we provide support have
Serving our community is at the heart of all we do. Our Resource Center in Winooski is closed, but we remain available and committed to help you navigate all your career and education needs and manage your student loans. Using guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, we're adapting the way we do this to best protect the health and safety of students, families, partners and staff.
- Our customer service specialists remain committed to assisting you. Please continue to reach out to us at 833-802-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm) if you have questions.
Not a VSAC borrower? VSAC can help you determine the steps you need to take on your federal or private loan even if it isn’t serviced by VSAC. Call us at 833-802-8722 and our customer service specialists will help! Or visit studentaid.gov.
- Our adult counselors in the EOC program are available for free phone appointments to assist adults thinking about postsecondary and short-term training programs and how to navigate online learning options. Call 877-961-4369 for a free appointment.
- We invite you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for live and recorded webinars.
Can I suspend my VSAC non-federal private student loans?
If you’ve been impacted by COVID-19, VSAC may be able to suspend your payments: Please contact us to discuss, as we aren't authorized to make any changes on your private loans without talking to you! Please call us at 800-798-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm).
Can I suspend my VSAC federal student loans?
Your VSAC federal student loans have several options available to immediately suspend the payments. Please call us at 800-798-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm) so that we can discuss the best option for your individual situation.
Do VSAC loan borrowers qualify for federal payment relief and 0% interest?
President Biden directed the Department of Education to extend the payment pause for student loans owned by the federal government. The extension does not include relief for VSAC’s federal student loans that are not in default or to any non-federal VSAC private student loans. VSAC continues to advocate to extend COVID Emergency Relief benefits for all education loan borrowers.
What if I have defaulted VSAC student loans?
VSAC will update the Manage Loan Default page with student loan relief measures available to impacted borrowers with loans in default.
For students entering or continuing in college and training, we've made it easier and faster to apply for funds to help pay the costs.
Auto-renewal: To reduce the paperwork burden for returning students, VSAC is offering to automatically renew the Vermont grant application as well as any renewable VSAC-assisted scholarships that students received in the prior year.
- If you have a Vermont grant application on file from the current academic year and were eligible for a grant, VSAC will automatically use the information on that application to consider you for a grant for next year.
- All students should monitor their myVSAC accounts for requests for additional information.
- Important: All students must still complete the FAFSA each year. Find details and apply here.
- Please call us at 800-882-4166 or email [email protected] if you have questions.
Income adjustments: We're also allowing applicants to use estimated 2020 income (rather than income reported on their 2018 tax returns) to better reflect any changes to employment status as a result of the current crisis.
- If you've applied for a grant and have experienced a change in financial circumstances, please call us at 800-882-4166 or email [email protected].
- Financial Aid & Managing College Costs presentations — View our video recording and find helpful resources here.
- Get help with financial aid forms — Check out all of our online events and offerings to help families plan and pay for college or training.
- Need help applying for a Vermont grant? View our video recording and find helpful resources here.
- Student interactive activities & workshops — University of Vermont's weekly online workshops throughout the fall for students of all ages. Learn new skills, and plan and prepare for college, training & careers.
- College & Career Pathways — View workshop video recordings and find resources, handouts, and links to statewide employers and agencies eager to support your career goals and interests with apprenticeships and other job programs. Find it all here.
Check VSAC's calendar of events for more virtual workshops as they develop.
- Federal Student Loan Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents
- Supports for students who formerly experienced foster care
- Avoiding scams and who to contact for help
- Getting you through COVID-19 — state resources for students & families; updates on college admissions, applications, and testing; and remote learning links and resources
- Governor Phil Scott’s press release about Vermont’s lead in a multi-state initiative to provide protections to private loan borrowers.
- Eligible students: Apply for expanded SNAP benefits — where and how students should apply for federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if they're enrolled in a school not located in their home state.