Financial Aid and Scholarships

Applicants to the MFA in Film program are automatically considered for general merit- and need-based scholarships from the college. In addition, students who meet the eligibility criteria will also be considered for the scholarships listed below:

• LGBTQ+ and Genderqueer Filmmaker Scholarship
• Woman Filmmaker Scholarship
• BIPOC Filmmaker Scholarship
• Filmmakers with Disability Scholarship

Please note that the scholarships listed below will be distributed among multiple recipients.

• Educator Awards: Awarded to one incoming student or enrolled student who shows interest and accomplishment in teaching design (K-12 or college level) who seek to continue their education to deepen both their education and their design practice. Short essay required (about 500 words.)This scholarship will be distributed over 2 semesters depending on enrollment status.
• Future of Design Award: Awarded to one incoming student whose application shows promise regarding their development of design as a discipline in response to relevant economic, social, and cultural situations. Award to be distributed equally over all semesters. We believe that design has the potential to influence the way we conduct business, use technologies, and frame communications, and we would like to support the exploration and development of constructive, transformative projects. Short essay required (about 500 words.)This scholarship will be distributed over 4 semesters.

Please submit your scholarship essays as a PDF to [email protected] with your name, the scholarship name, and “MFA Graphic Design” in the subject line by April 30th, 2024.

• Composers Fellowship Award: New students are eligible to receive scholarships ranging from $4,000-$14,000 over four semesters.
• Diversity in Composition Award: Based upon a combination of financial need and academic merit, this scholarship is awarded to composers of color and/or from the LGBTQ+ community in order to create opportunities for traditionally underrepresented composers. Award amounts range from $6,000-$16,000 over four semesters.
• Music Educator Award: This scholarship supports music educators pursuing their own artistic development. Private instructors, K-12 teachers, and college-level educators are all eligible to be considered for an award ranging from $4,000-$12,000 and spread out over four semesters.
• Regional Composers Scholarship: A Vermont-based donor has made it possible for more regional students to enroll in the MFA in Music Composition. If you are from the New England or New York area and are accepted into the program, you may be considered for this grant ranging from $4,000-$12,000 over four semesters.
• Women Composers Fellowship: In support of women in the field of music composition, VCFA has instituted grant of $6,000-$16,000 spread over four semesters. All women composers accepted into the program are eligible to be considered for this award.

Scholarships for applicants

 Every application cycle: 

• Merit scholarship: awarded in the acceptance letter.
• Need-based scholarship: awarded during the enrollment process, post acceptance.

Every other application cycle:

• Dolan Award: a $10,000 scholarship established by the Dolan Foundation, specifically for students of ethnic and racial diversity. Prospective students who wish to be considered for this scholarship indicate so in their application, under the Dolan Award field.
• Distinguished Artist Award: This scholarship is awarded to two new students and supports half of a student’s entire tuition in the program. Prospective students who wish to be considered for this scholarship submit a short statement included in the admissions application, under the Distinguished Artist Award field.

Scholarships for students enrolled in the program 

• Levin Lutz: The G. Roy Levin/Jessica Lutz Merit Prize was established by the first graduates of the MFA in Visual Art program. It is a $500 award granted by program faculty and administration to a third-semester student whose progress in the program, both academic and studio, deserves special acknowledgment.
• Janet Kaplan Memoral Scholarship: This scholarship was established by alumnx and friends in memory of our founding faculty member, Janet Kaplan. It is a $500 award granted by program faculty and administration to a student entering their final semester, in recognition of their progress in the program and to support the costs associated with developing and implementing their final exhibition.

• The Writing Life Scholarship Fund
• Voices of Creative Nonfiction Scholarship Fund
• The Saddha Scholarship Fund
• Lynda Hull Minority Scholarship Fund
• The Upstreet Scholarship Fund
• Fowler-McCown Scholarship Fund

• Angela Johnson Scholarship
• Award for Excellence in Writing MG
• Award for Excellence in Writing Picture Books
• Award for Excellence in Writing Short Stories
• Award for Excellence in Writing YA
• Award for Excellence in Writing Chapter Books/Early Readers
• Award for Excellence in Writing Non-fiction
• Critical Thesis Prize
• T.A. Barron Prize for Inspiring Nature Writing

To apply for financial aid, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the same time as you submit your VCFA application. The VCFA School Code for the FAFSA is 003697.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program offers low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education after high school. The lender is the US Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. Additional information on Federal Direct Loans is available from the Department of Education at studentaid.gov or 800-848-0979.

Students get Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans regardless of need, but will have to pay all interest charges. The total maximum Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan per year is $20,500.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program offers low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education after high school. The lender is the US Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. Additional information on Federal Direct Loans is available from the Department of Education at studentaid.gov or 800-848-0979.

Graduate and professional degree students may borrow under the PLUS Loan program up to their school’s cost of attendance minus other financial assistance.

VCFA is approved by the Vermont State Approving Agency to accept veterans’ benefits, including Chapter 31 (Voc Rehab) and Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) benefits. VCFA also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. VCFA’s registrar serves as the VA’s School Certified Official and certifies enrollment for veterans so that their educational benefits can be used at VCFA. For more information contact [email protected]. You can also learn more at vcfa.edu/admissions/veterans.

Federal financial aid is only available to US citizens and permanent residents. However, accepted international students will be asked to submit financial information (similar to what is requested in the FAFSA) to be considered for need-based scholarships from the college.

Prospective and incoming students are encouraged to attend a financial aid information session. Sessions will provide an overview of the financial aid process, from filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and applying for VCFA scholarships to researching external funding opportunities and more. You can find the schedule and registration form at the button below.

For more information or to speak with a financial aid counselor, email [email protected]

The Financial Aid Office uses the information provided by the federal government from your FAFSA report to determine need-based scholarships. The FAFSA is the U.S. government’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid. To receive Federal Unsubsidized Student Loans and/or Grad PLUS loans, you must fill out the FAFSA.

Please note: 

• Filling out the FAFSA does not require you to take out any federal loans. 
• Filling out the FAFSA does not impact your credit score.

Most students at VCFA take out some federally-funded loans to pay for their education. However, others opt to pay for their degree with savings or outside funding (see below). 

Students receive Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans regardless of need, but will have to pay all interest charges. The total maximum Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan per year is $20,500.

To supplement the Stafford loans, graduate and professional degree students may also borrow under the Grad PLUS Loan program.

PLEASE NOTE: it can take the federal government 2-3 weeks to process your application. 

We recommend all applicants fill out the FAFSA when you start your application. 

If you feel you will not be eligible for need-based scholarships and are not planning to apply for federal loans, you can indicate that on your application.

All students, regardless of need, will be considered for merit awards.

International students and others who do not meet FAFSA eligibility requirements can still demonstrate financial need by submitting income-related documentation directly to the VCFA Financial Aid Office. Email [email protected] to learn more.

All students, regardless of need, are considered for merit awards. Awards range from $1,000 – $4,000 and are awarded based on the overall strength of your application. Not all applicants receive merit awards.

Some programs have special awards that are funded by our community. Examples include:

Beyond Words (WCYA): $1,000

Established by an alum of the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults (WCYA) Program, this award recognizes a VCFA applicant who has demonstrated a passion and commitment to the literary field of picture books.

Norma Fox Mazer Award (WCYA): $1,000

This scholarship was established in honor of former VCFA faculty member Norma Fox Mazer. Norma was a beloved faculty member at VCFA and her heart and dedication to the program went far beyond her years as faculty member and Faculty Chair. This scholarship aligns with Norma’s young adult writing and recognizes both Norma’s support for the program and her prominence in the field of children’s literature. Application material should be targeted toward Young Adult readers, 14-19 years old. Any genre (poetry, nonfiction, novel, or picture book).

Frank Howard Mosher Scholarship (Writing): $10,000

The Frank Howard Mosher Scholarship supports incoming Writing students who reside primarily in the state of Vermont.

These awards are given in addition to any need-based and merit awards for which you may already qualify. Your eligibility for these awards is based on your application. For example,  the Beyond Words award (above) would be given to a WCYA applicant whose creative sample included an outstanding picture book manuscript. 

To guarantee your application is considered for a special award, you must apply by our Recommended Application Deadline.

If we have your FAFSA information at the time you are accepted, or if you have indicated you are not completing the FAFSA, you will receive your full financial aid package within a week of your acceptance. 

If we do not have your FAFSA information at the time you are accepted, you will receive your full financial aid package within one week of VCFA receiving your FAFSA information. PLEASE NOTE: it can take the federal government 2-3 weeks to process your application.