The Osher Foundation Re-entry Scholarship and the Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship are intended for students who are resuming progress toward their first Bachelor's Degree after a gap in their studies of five years or more, and who meet the additional criteria outlined below. There is one combined application at UVM for these scholarships, and students are selected on a competitive basis each year. Awarded students are given preference in the selection process for their future years at UVM, but must still apply each year.

The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected community leader and businessman. Mr. Osher and his wife, Barbro Osher, are deeply committed to helping non-traditional age students successfully complete their college education. The Foundation made a generous grant to the University of Vermont to provide scholarship support for students seeking their degree after a significant break in their studies. Scholarships are generally awarded for $2,000 for the year.

The Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship Program at the University of Vermont is intended to expand the scholarship support available to UVM students who are returning to complete their first undergraduate degree after a significant gap in their studies. This program is made possible by a gift from Crankstart, and is patterned after the Osher Re-entry Scholarship Program. The awards are intended for people with great financial need whose education has been interrupted for five years or more and who want to resume their undergraduate studies in order to earn their first Bachelor's Degree. Scholarships are generally awarded for $2,000 for the year.

The following criteria apply for both the Osher Scholarship and Crankstart Scholarship:

  • Recipients must have a cumulative gap in their education of at least five years following leaving or graduating from high school.
  • Recipients must be at the undergraduate level, pursuing their first Bachelor's Degree.
  • Recipients must demonstrate financial need, socio-economic or other challenges and/or hardships, academic qualifications, achievements and promise, as well as a commitment to completing their degree.
  • Recipients are between the ages of 25 and 50, and anticipate workforce participation for a significant period of time following graduation.
  • Recipients may be enrolled full-time or part-time at UVM.

The number of scholarships is limited and selections are competitive. Students must meet the criteria above in order to be considered.

Students must have a 2024-2025 FAFSA on file with UVM in order to be considered for either scholarship.

The 2024-2025 application deadline is September 1, 2024.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. If you are an incoming student and have not already done so, activate your NetID. An active NetID is required to apply.
  2. Click here to go to our new scholarship platform, which uses single sign-on with your UVM NetID and password. 
  3. Once in the scholarship platform, click on My Applications in the upper left. You will then see an option to start the Osher & Crankstart Scholarship application.
    • Only students pursuing an undergraduate degree who are between the ages of 25-50 will see the scholarship application. Please review the criteria above to make sure you meet the basic eligibility requirements before applying.