Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
Financial Information
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Dietetic Internship provides a stipend for dietetic interns for all tracks. The 2024-2025 stipend is estimated to be the hourly rate is $15 per hour, subject to tax withholdings and is paid bi-weekly. The stipend is paid only for the supervised practice portion of the DI. The stipend received is generally used to cover some of the cost-of-living expenses. You must be a U.S. citizen to receive a stipend.
Estimated Dietetic Internship Program ExpensesParking and Transportation: Interns are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from all rotations. Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital parking is provided for interns.
Professional Liability Insurance: Interns are responsible for purchasing their own professional liability insurance and provide proof of this insurance coverage for the duration of the dietetic internship.
Professional Liability Insurance can be purchased through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a student member. Interns are required to have liability insurance throughout the entire program.
Health Insurance: Dietetic interns at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Interns must follow all regulations per the Federal
Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program handbook. Interns are not required to enroll in the FEHB Program.
Application fee: There is no internship application fee, and we do not charge tuition to attend the internship program.
Cost of living during the internship depends upon your choice of living arrangements. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide meals or housing. Interns may choose to share an apartment. Meals
can be purchased in the Canteen Service cafeteria, or lunch can be carried from home.
Estimated Dietetic Internship Program Expenses
• Application Fee for Internship - None
• Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) - $50
• Housing - $1,200 - $1,800 / month
• Transportation – varies
• Professional liability insurance - $37/year
• Health Insurance - Eligible for VA health benefits (cost varies based on plan)
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership - $50 / year
• RD Exam Review Course - $200-350
• Drug Screening - $30 (if required by affiliation site)
• Tuition for Supervised Practice - none
Additional expenses for MS/DI track
Loyola University Chicago:
• Application fee – no application fee to apply.
• Tuition - Interns enrolled in the combined MS/Dietetic Internship Track will be
responsible for the tuition costs at the university including additional textbooks
and supplies. The program is a total of 33 credit hours with tuition of $1,240 per
credit hour for the 2024-2025 academic year. The estimated tuition cost is
$40,920. Expenses related to program tuition, fees, financial aid and
scholarships for the Master’s degree is located here: Tuition & Fees: Office of
the Bursar: Loyola University Chicago (luc.edu)
University of Alabama:
• Application fee - $65 (combined MS/DI track only)
• Tuition - Interns enrolled in the combined MS/Dietetic Internship Track will be
responsible for the tuition costs at the university including additional textbooks
and supplies. The program is a total of 30 credit hours with tuition of $440 per
credit hour for the 2024-2025 academic year. The estimated tuition cost is
$13,200. Expenses related to program tuition, fees, financial aid and
scholarships for the Master’s degree is located here: Tuition Rates - Online
Degrees - The University of Alabama (ua.edu)
Financial Resources and Scholarships
Interns enrolled in the MS/DI Track are eligible for financial aid and scholarships through their university.
Please see links for financial aid and scholarship options.
• Loyola University Chicago: Cost and Financial Aid | Loyola Chicago | Graduate and
Professional Admission (luc.edu)
• University of Alabama: Financial Aid | Afford (ua.edu)
Interns enrolled in the DI only track are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Interns who can
secure deferment of student loans may request the internship director provide documentation of your
status as a dietetic intern.
All interns can apply for scholarships provided by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,
visit Scholarships and Financial Aid (eatrightpro.org) for a list of scholarships.
