Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is one of the most common types of financial assistance available to students and is typically the best option for students looking to fund their education, offering better interest rates and more flexibility than other forms of financing. Federal aid is available in the form of grants and loans.

Federal Loans

Champlain College participates in the Federal Direct Loan program, which allows students to borrow federal funds to help meet educational costs. Loans must be used for educational expenses. Students are responsible for repaying the amount they borrow, with interest, upon program completion. 

Loans are available to those who qualify once accepted to a degree or eligible certificate program. For undergraduate programs, you must be enrolled at least half-time (taking a course load of 6 or more credits per semester) to qualify. For graduate programs, you must be enrolled in at least 3 credits to qualify. For certificate programs, please contact your Admission Representative or your Academic Advisor for the most up-to-date information on which certificate programs are eligible for financial aid. 

Loan options include:

• Direct Subsidized Loans: Loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Loans made to eligible undergraduate and graduate students. Eligibility is not based on financial need.
• Direct PLUS Loans: Loans made to graduate students and parent of a dependent undergraduate student to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required.

Learn more about subsidized and unsubsidized loans here.

The amount of money you can borrow will vary. Keep in mind when planning your educational journey that there are both yearly and lifetime limits on the amount of financial aid available to any individual.

• Undergraduate Independent Students can borrow a maximum of $9,500 – $12,500 per award year in Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, depending on how far along in your program you are, prior loan borrowing, and Cost of Attendance.
• Undergraduate Dependent Students may be able to borrow a maximum of $5,500 - $7,500 per award year in Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, based on how far along you are in your program, prior loan borrowing, and Cost of Attendance. 
• Graduate or Professional Students can borrow up to $20,500 each year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Direct PLUS Loans can be used for the remainder of college costs not covered by other financial aid.

For further information on federal loans, such as current interest rates, visit www.studentaid.gov.

Federal Grants

Federal grants are a good option for students who need to supplement federal loans without increasing their debt load, as grants do not need to be repaid. Federal grants are need-based and available to certain groups of students.

Federal Pell Grants are one of the most common grant types, and are awarded only to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and have not previously earned a bachelor's degree. Students eligible for any amount in a Federal Pell Grant will also be awarded a small Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant determined by the Financial Aid Office. 

Information on other types of federal grants can be found here.

Champlain's financial aid office can work with you to determine which grants you might be eligible for.

Grants are also available from state governments. These grants vary from state to state, and amounts, requirements, and eligibility will depend on the specific program you are participating in. A full list of state-specific grant resources can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.

Vermont State Grants

If you're a Vermont resident, you may be eligible to receive grant money from the state through VSAC. To learn more about Vermont state grants, visit the VSAC website. 

Champlain offers a variety of ways to save on your education, including:

• Transfer Credit
• Credit for Prior Learning
• truED Preferred Pricing
• Employer Reimbursement
• Military and Veteran Benefits
• Single Parent Scholarships (Vermont residents only)
• Private Scholarships
• Education Tax Benefits: Tax credits, deductions, and savings plans can help taxpayers with their expenses for higher education. For more information visit the IRS website. 

We also offer flexible payment plans for those who wish to stagger their payments across a semester rather than paying a lump sum at one time.