Freedom & Unity (Free Tuition at Vermont State University)

Freedom and Unity makes Vermont State University tuition-free for Vermont residents whose family adjusted gross income is $85,000 or less. Funded by the Vermont Legislature and run by VSAC with Vermont State, it builds on the university's Free Tuition Promise and covers general tuition in full for fall and spring courses once federal, state and institutional grants are combined. It is open to new and returning students of any age who have a high school diploma or equivalent, do not already hold a bachelor's degree, and are enrolled full or part time in an associate or bachelor's program at Vermont State, which offers about 100 undergraduate programs in person, in flexible formats and online. It does not cover program-specific tuition, mandatory fees, books, computers or materials. To apply, students complete the FAFSA and VSAC's Vermont Grant application; students who cannot file a FAFSA can use the Vermont Grant Pathway application. VSAC then works with Vermont State to pay the tuition.

Other deadlines near this one

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Alaska Education Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  Due June 30, 2027 · $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier

How hard is the Freedom & Unity (Free Tuition at Vermont State University) to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to Vermont residents
• Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
• Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Freedom & Unity (Free Tuition at Vermont State University)?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of Vermont
• ✓Must attend a college in Vermont (the award does not travel out of state)
• ✓Open to high school seniors
• ✓Household income of $90,000 or less

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). File the FAFSA and the Vermont Grant application as soon as they open; the same two filings also check eligibility for the Vermont Grant.

2027-28 FAFSA opens

October 1, 2026

Vermont Grant application through VSAC

Before the fall term

Common questions about the Freedom & Unity (Free Tuition at Vermont State University)

More state grants & programs

• Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship
  Covers remaining tuition for high-demand programs (last-dollar) · due July 1, 2027
• Georgia HOPE Grant
  Tuition at the hourly rate ($107 per semester hour at TCSG colleges in 2026-27) · due June 30, 2027
• Georgia HOPE Scholarship
  Up to ~$10,500/yr toward tuition (per-credit rate set annually; 100% of tuition at many campuses) · due June 30, 2027
• Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Grant
  Up to $13,000 a year (cap varies by program) · due June 30, 2027
• Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant
  Up to $18,000 a year ($72,000 lifetime) · due June 30, 2027
• Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG)
  $550 per semester (up to $1,650 a year) · due June 30, 2027

Lists this award appears on

• Vermont Scholarships and State Grants
• No-Essay Scholarships
• Need-Based Scholarships and Grants
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Scholarships With June Deadlines