Does VCOM offer scholarships?
There are scholarships available to students. VCOM keeps a current list of outside scholarships that our students have received in the past.
A list of current internal and external scholarships that VCOM students may apply for can be found at https://www.vcom.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/scholarships.
There are also service-based scholarships, including the National Health Service Corps and the Military Health Professions Scholarship Program.
What is a service contract?
Essentially, a service contract is an agreement to work in an organization later in return for receiving a scholarship now. The two most common service contracts are from the National Health Service Corps and the US Military has the Military Health Professions Scholarship Program. Each branch of the military has a program, so check online for information on each branch, or contact a recruiter in your area.
What is the student loan default rate for graduates from VCOM?
Historical Student Loan Default Rates for VCOM for the past five years are less than one percent.
VCOM is the only school in the country with a zero percent non-payment rate on federal loans, as listed by the Department of Education in 2025.
VCOM prides itself on being one of the least expensive medical schools in the nation, as backed up by US News and World Report.
Upon request, VCOM will provide up to four years of student debt load and student loan default rates, including, at a minimum, race/ethnicity and gender demographic data. To request this data, contact Daniel Hewitt, Director for Financial Aid, at 540-231-6021.
Is my parent’s information required on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
As a graduate student, the only information required on the FAFSA is your own at VCOM. If you see prompts as you complete the FAFSA indicating that “for some medical students, parents’ information is required or recommended,” you can disregard those prompts and not list your parents’ information. VCOM does not participate in financial aid programs that would require parental information be listed on the FAFSA.
Alternatively, if you feel some compelling other reason to list your parent’s information on the FAFSA, VCOM is more than happy to ignore it when we process FAFSA results.
What is the FAFSA school code for each campus?
- VCOM Virginia’s school code for the FAFSA is G37093
- VCOM Carolina’s school code for the FAFSA is E01970
- VCOM Auburn’s school code for the FAFSA is E40408
- VCOM Louisiana’s school code for the FAFSA is E40498
What month’s best for me to complete the FAFSA?
The best month to file your FAFSA is January of the year you enroll. Typically, FAFSA is available in October of the year before you intend to enroll.
Will a copy of my income tax return be required with my application?
VCOM does not routinely require you file a copy of your federal income tax return with the financial aid office.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow while I’m at VCOM?
The maximum amount you can borrow while attending VCOM is the Cost of Attendance for each year you are enrolled, as established by VCOM’s Financial Aid Committee and updated each year.
- For students in the DO program at VCOM who began borrowing prior to July 1st, 2026, the amount is from a combination of the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan programs with one federal aggregate (lifetime) limit of $224,000 for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans (as an undergraduate or prior-to-VCOM-graduate student loans). This aggregate amount does not include Federal Graduate PLUS loans.
- For students starting VCOM after July 1, 2026, (the VCOM class that will graduate in May 2030) the lifetime limit for Federal loans combined (VCOM program and programs prior to VCOM) is $200,000 for the DO program and a lifetime maximum of $257,500 for all programs (prior to VCOM and borrowed while at VCOM). A private loan can make up the difference between the annual unsubsidized loan limit and the cost of attendance.
- Based on current regulations, you will have to pass a credit check each year in order to receive a private loan. Borrowers will be informed about the process of selecting types of loan and applying for private loans at the time the student’s financial aid offer is made available on the MyVCOM portal.
- Private loans are available. Visit the Financial Aid Process page for more information
What month will financial aid awards be available?
Financial aid awards are available for VCOM students in June and July of each year.
Will financial aid awards be mailed to me?
No. Notification of financial aid awards is electronically accomplished through links provided to your VCOM email account. VCOM uses the MyVCOM portal to communicate documents needed and received, and financial aid awards made (and to accept financial aid awards).
Responding to Your Financial Aid Offer
Financial Aid Offers must be accepted, reduced, or declined on the MyVCOM portal student interface. Scholarships or other financial assistance that you anticipate receiving that are not recorded on the Aid offer should also be reported in your response.
Failure to Respond
If VCOM does not receive a response from you through the MyVCOM portal, we will assume you have declined the aid and no loans will be created for you. Any scholarships or grants you are scheduled to receive will still be paid.
What is the process for applying for financial aid?
The process for applying for financial aid starts with completing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov and listing the VCOM campus of your choice’s school code. Visit the Financial Aid Process page for more information.
What documents other than the FAFSA will be required for my financial aid application?
The only document VCOM will need is the FAFSA. In rare instances when the financial aid office needs additional documentation, students will be emailed at their VCOM email account or can see the documents required in the MyVCOM portal.
Will my outside scholarship automatically reduce my student loan amounts?
Any required reduction will not be automatic. Students are required to notify the financial aid office of any scholarship they receive or expect to receive. Adjustments of financial aid may be needed, based on federal rules, on a case-by-case basis.
Will my financial aid cover my moving expenses to VCOM’s city?
No. Federal regulations require students Cost of Attendance (COA) start on the first day of school, not include any breaks or time away on break, and end on the last day of each school year. Therefore, since you need to move before the first day of school, moving expenses are not part of COA.
Can I get food stamps while I’m attending VCOM?
Since federal rules require food to be included in the amounts we consider to be in the student’s Cost of Attendance, it is expected your financial aid funding would partially be used for buying food.
Food stamps are federal benefits, and rules regarding eligibility and benefit levels are set by the federal government. However, each state is responsible for administering food stamps to its residents.
In South Carolina and Alabama, you would have to have a 20 hour per week job in order to qualify for food stamps so medical students typically do not qualify. For current or additional information go to:
Alabama Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
https://dhr.alabama.gov/food-assistance/
Louisiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
http://www.dss.state.la.us/page/snap
South Carolina Food Stamp Program and Application
http://www.sciway.net/gov/sc-food-stamps.html
Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Virginia and fall into one of two groups: (1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).
Do loan funds come to me directly or to VCOM?
Loan funds do not come to you directly. The funds come directly to VCOM from the US Department of Education (the lender) in your name. Your account is then credited and any tuition or charges due are paid. If there is a remainder, or if you have borrowed living expense money, those funds are forwarded to an account you have specified – usually by direct deposit. If you did not sign up for direct deposit, then a check will be made out to you, which you can pick up in the business office.
How often do funds arrive?
Funds arrive once every semester, assuming you continue making satisfactory academic progress and remain in good academic standing with VCOM.
When will disbursements be made?
Disbursements arrive during the first two weeks of classes in each semester.
What do I have to do in order to qualify for my next student loan disbursement?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications must be completed yearly in the spring for aid for the next fall. Financial aid funds are not disbursed during student breaks or holidays from school.
Can I get Medicaid while I’m attending VCOM?
Cost of attendance figures and financial aid funding include the average costs for health insurance premiums and incidental medical costs. Therefore VCOM students do not typically apply nor do they qualify for Medicaid while attending VCOM.
Alabama
For more information on Medicaid and qualification for Alabama, see: http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/ for more information.
Louisiana
For more information on Medicaid and qualifications for Louisiana, see: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/220
South Carolina
For more information on Medicaid and qualification for South Carolina, see https://www.scdhhs.gov/income-limits for information.
Virginia
Childless adults in Virginia are not eligible for Medicaid. For more information on benefits for Virginia, see: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/medical_assistance/.
Where can I find out about health insurance coverage at VCOM?
Current information regarding the VCOM health insurance can be found on the website:
Health Insurance. Students pay no premiums for medical insurance.
What do I need to do to keep my undergraduate loans in deferment while I am in medical school?
VCOM sends your enrollment to the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS) once you are enrolled. This process can take a month or two. Therefore, if you need your enrollment sent on the first day of classes, your loan servicer should have a form online that you can print and fill out. Once you have completed the form, bring it to the Registrar’s Office for completion and forwarding to your servicer.
How do I find out who my loan servicer is?
You can find out who your servicer is by logging in with your Federal Student Aid ID at studentaid.gov, under Managing your loans. Use your FSA ID and password to log in and view your loan and or grant records. Click on the loan record that you want to know the servicer of and your servicer will be listed along with their website and contact information.
What is my loan eligibility if I withdraw and then return?
Students who withdraw and return will be subject to new loan limits as they are described in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025. For more information about the new loan limits and changes, please visit One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Loan Updates