Tuition

This Opportunity Vanderbilt-inspired tuition adjustment program helps full-time Vanderbilt employees and students access affordable, high-quality child care.

Acorn families with household incomes of less than $125,000 may apply for a Vanderbilt tuition rate adjustment.

If your income level is below $74,999, VCFC encourages you to first apply for the TN Child Care Certificate Program. Although VCFC cannot guarantee TN State eligibility or reimbursement rate, if approved you would likely receive a higher tuition reimbursement rate than you would receive through the VU tuition scholarship.

The amount of the adjustment is based on gross household income levels ($0 - $59,999 – 60%); ($60,000 - $74,999 – 40%); ($75,000 - $99,999 – 20%); ($100,000 - $124,999 – 5%) and the total funding available.

If approved, please be advised that federal tax law designates these discounts as a taxable benefit.   If you receive a paycheck from Vanderbilt the discount will show up as an imputed earning.   If you do not receive a paycheck from Vanderbilt, please discuss with your tax consultant as this is still a taxable benefit.

The application should be returned as soon as possible and must be received by the 15th of the month in order for the approved discount to be applied to the next month.   Please do not submit an application until after you have received an offer of admission.

The Child Care Certificate Program is a state program that assists Families First participants, parents transitioning off Families First, parents working or enrolled in post-secondary education programs, teen parents, and children in foster care. It’s also called the subsidized child care program. To participate in the program, families must be declared eligible by the Department of Human Services (TDHS) staff or by the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) staff for children in foster care.

TDHS provides financial assistance with child care costs for families meeting income guideline criteria through several child care assistance programs. For more information go to the Tennessee Department of Human Services website.