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Dietetic Internship Program

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VA St. Louis Health Care System Dietetic Internship

Financial Information


Stipend
While completing the supervised practice portion of the program at the VA St. Louis Health Care System, interns earn a stipend $25,200 (before taxes and deductions) paid bi-weekly via direct deposit.

Tuition
There is no tuition for participating in the VA St. Louis Health Care System Dietetic Internship (VASTLHCS DI).  For interns enrolled in the MS-DI program, tuition varies based on university program:
  • Texas Tech University $450/credit hour
  • University of Alabama $480/credit hour
  • University of North Florida $523.50/credit hour

Financial Resources

  • Interns enrolled in the MS-DI program may be eligible for financial aid through the university. Please reach out to the university directly.
  • Interns with previous educational loans may be eligible for loan deferments based on their loan provider.
  • Interns are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) in addition to their state and local affiliations.

Benefits while in supervised practice

  • Interns are eligible for medical, vision, and dental benefits at VA employee rates. Costs vary depending on the plan, please visit https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ for more information.
  • Interns earn annual and sick leave at a rate of 4 hours per pay period to be used as needed.
  • Interns are provided with VA issued laptops and lab coats to use.
  • VA Medical Library privileges including access to the AND Nutrition Care Manual, the eNCPT Nutrition Reference Manual, and the AND Evidence Analysis Library, in addition to electronic journals and most popular medical/clinical databases.
  • Free flu vaccines, TB tests, and other required vaccines and titers.

Estimated Expenses
St. Louis stands out as one of the most affordable cities in the United States, especially when compared to cities of similar size.

  • Application fee – DICAS charges $50 for the first designation and $25 for each additional designation. There is no additional fee to apply to the VASTLHCS DI.
  • Background check – Covered by the VA, no cost incurred by the intern.
  • Technology – Laptops are provided while in supervised practice and internet is available throughout the medical center. Interns may prefer to have internet access at home to work on projects outside of rotation hours.  The average cost of internet in the St. Louis region ranges $40-65/month.
  • Housing – Rent varies in St. Louis, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment ranges $900-1100/month. Utilities may or may not be included in these charges.
  • Transportation – A personal reliable form of transportation is required as public transportation in St. Louis does not consistently meet intern needs. Parking at the medical center and affiliate sites is free.
  • Student professional liability insurance – While in rotation, interns have personal liability protection provided by the provisions of the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act, however, an intern can choose to purchase additional coverage for less than $50/year.
  • AND student membership - $58/year
  • AND-STL student membership - $11/year
  • Professional conference – Depending on location, date, and access, interns may be required to attend professional conferences at a charge of $150-270/conference
  • Uniforms – No uniform is required while in supervised practice, but interns often to wear scrubs during clinical rotation. Scrubs must be plain colored, and costs vary.
  • Textbooks and reference materials – No textbooks or references are required for the supervised practice portion of the program. Prior to the program, interns will receive a list of recommendations, many of which they may already have from undergraduate and graduate studies.
  • Incidental supplies for assignments and projects- minimal
  • RD exam and study materials – The exam cost s $250 and study materials can range $50-500.
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Page updated October 2025
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