State 10 Colleges 3 Public 1 Community

Colleges in Vermont

Ranked, compared, and filtered by real data: costs, outcomes, and admissions

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About Vermont

Vermont's higher education landscape is defined by its human scale. The University of Vermont is genuinely mid-sized by national standards, with strengths in environmental science, public health, and medicine that reflect what the state cares about and what its economy needs.

Middlebury College has built one of the most respected language instruction programs in the country through its summer language schools, and the breadth of small liberal arts colleges across the state gives Vermont an academic density that is unusual for a state with fewer than 700,000 people.

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Why Study in Vermont?

PROS

Vermont Incentive Grants Vermont Incentive Grants and need-based aid reduce costs for qualifying residents at public institutions.
World-class language programs Middlebury's language programs are considered among the best anywhere in the world.
Small class sizes Small class sizes and direct faculty access are consistently cited as Vermont's strongest academic advantages.
Strong graduate outcomes Liberal arts colleges here — Middlebury, St. Michael's, Norwich — produce strong professional outcomes relative to size.

CONS

Very high total cost Vermont is among the most expensive states per student when room and board are included, with limited in-state financial aid.
Small in-state job market Small population and economy mean limited local job markets — many graduates relocate to Boston or New York to build careers.
Isolation and harsh winters Geographic isolation and long winters affect campus quality of life in ways that are difficult to anticipate from a campus visit.

How Vermont Compares

See how Vermont's colleges compare to the national average on the four measures most students and families weigh when deciding where to go: cost, acceptance rates, graduate earnings, and graduation rates.

Avg Net Price / yr $27,584 ↑ $9,763 above national National avg: $17,821/yr

Avg Acceptance Rate 62.2% ↓ 10.3% below national National avg: 72.5%

Median Earnings (10yr) $50,930 ↑ $2,741 above national National avg: $48,189

Avg Graduation Rate 64.1% ↑ 18.3% above national National avg: 45.8%

Acceptance Rate Trend (2019–2023) Stable ↓ 1.9 pts since 2019

Top Colleges in Vermont

The colleges in Vermont that rank highest by UCD Score, and those that deliver above-national graduate earnings at a below-average net price, two of the strongest signals when choosing a school.

Highest UCD Score

Burlington Strong

University of Vermont

$19,343 Net price $62,472 Earnings 10yr

Middlebury Strong

Middlebury College

$31,483 Net price $76,310 Earnings 10yr

Colchester Good

Saint Michael's College

$25,239 Net price $61,317 Earnings 10yr

Northfield Good

Norwich University

$22,257 Net price $65,575 Earnings 10yr

Bennington Good

Bennington College

$30,947 Net price $38,289 Earnings 10yr

Randolph Good

Vermont State University

$18,212 Net price $50,331 Earnings 10yr

Best Value Colleges

Montpelier 2.6× ROI

Community College of Vermont

$13,696 Net price $36,234 Earnings 10yr

Craftsbury Common 1.4× ROI

Sterling College

$21,854 Net price $30,573 Earnings 10yr

Browse All Colleges in Vermont →

Best Colleges by Goal

Not every student is looking for the same thing. These six panels rank Vermont's colleges by the data that matters most for each path.

1
University of Vermont Burlington
$62,472
2
Vermont State University Randolph
$50,331
3
Community College of Vermont Montpelier
$36,234

1
University of Vermont Burlington
$62,472
2
Norwich University Northfield
$65,575
3
Vermont State University Randolph
$50,331

1
Champlain College Burlington
$58,386
2
University of Vermont Burlington
$62,472
3
Norwich University Northfield
$65,575

1
Community College of Vermont Montpelier
$13,696
2
Vermont State University Randolph
$18,212
3
University of Vermont Burlington
$19,343

1
Community College of Vermont Montpelier
$13,696

1
Middlebury College Middlebury
$76,310
2
Norwich University Northfield
$65,575
3
University of Vermont Burlington
$62,472

Career Outcomes & ROI

Which colleges give you the most for what you spend? These eight schools rank highest in Vermont by the ratio of 10-year graduate earnings to annual net price.

#	College	Net Price / yr	Earnings (10yr)	Ratio	Rating
1	University of Vermont Burlington	$19,343	$62,472	3.2×	Strong
2	Norwich University Northfield	$22,257	$65,575	3.0×	Good
3	Vermont State University Randolph	$18,212	$50,331	2.8×	Good
4	Community College of Vermont Montpelier	$13,696	$36,234	2.7×	Good
5	Saint Michael's College Colchester	$25,239	$61,317	2.4×	Good
6	Middlebury College Middlebury	$31,483	$76,310	2.4×	Good
7	Champlain College Burlington	$35,860	$58,386	1.6×	Average
8	Sterling College Craftsbury Common	$21,854	$30,573	1.4×	Average

ROI Ratio = median earnings 10 years after enrollment ÷ annual net price. Higher is better.

Popular Majors in Vermont

The six fields of study with the most annual graduates across all colleges in Vermont, based on IPEDS completion data.

HEALTH +9.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Health

3,924 Colleges 26 Specializations

BUSINESS +4.7% Avg Growth · BLS

Business

3,021 Colleges 22 Specializations

STEM +10.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Computer Science

2,632 Colleges 11 Specializations

HEALTH +4.4% Avg Growth · BLS

Biology

1,895 Colleges 14 Specializations

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Top Programs in Vermont

The specific degree programs producing the most graduates across Vermont's colleges. A more granular view than the Popular Majors above, useful when you already know roughly what you want to study and want to see where the volume is.

Program Colleges Grads/yr Earnings · 4yr

Business Administration 7.0 758.0 $68,257

Nursing 3.0 434.0 $88,910

Natural Resources Conservation and Research 8.0 349.0 $55,012

Psychology 6.0 319.0 $50,706

IT Administration 3.0 292.0 $85,063

Liberal Arts 8.0 246.0 $53,072

Biology 7.0 230.0 $57,214

Computer Science 7.0 208.0 $107,009

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Colleges by City in Vermont

The cities in Vermont with the most colleges, ranked by number of institutions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Vermont?

Vermont has 10 accredited colleges and universities: 3 public, 7 private nonprofit. Of those, 1 are two-year community or technical colleges.

What does it actually cost to go to college in Vermont?

The average net price across Vermont colleges is $27,584 per year. That's what students pay after grants and scholarships, not the sticker tuition. That's $9,763 above the national average of $17,821, so expect higher out-of-pocket costs unless you land strong aid. This figure blends public and private schools together; public in-state tuition usually runs lower, while private college costs swing widely based on each school's aid policy.

How hard is it to get into college in Vermont?

The average acceptance rate across Vermont colleges is 62.2%. That's below the national average of 72.5%, reflecting more selective admissions across the state. That's a blended average. Open-enrollment community colleges accept all applicants, while flagship universities and selective private schools admit far fewer. Difficulty varies more by program than by state.

How much do Vermont college graduates earn?

Ten years after first enrolling, the typical graduate from a Vermont college earns $50,930 per year. That's $2,741 above the national median of $48,189, a strong outcome relative to most states. Earnings split sharply by field. Healthcare, engineering, and technology programs sit well above this median, while graduates in education, social work, and the arts often land below it.

Is going to college in Vermont worth it financially?

Looking at net price versus 10-year graduate earnings, Vermont colleges produce a moderate return, with graduates earning roughly1.8× the annual cost of attendance within a decade. Whether that works depends heavily on major and which specific school you choose. The Career Outcomes section above ranks individual schools; the spread between the best and worst-value colleges in Vermont is wide enough that school choice matters more than the state average.

What percentage of students graduate from Vermont colleges?

On average, 64.1% of students who enroll at Vermont colleges finish their degree within six years. That's 18.3 percentage points above the national average. Vermont students complete at a higher rate than most states. This varies considerably by institution. Selective four-year universities graduate a much higher share than open-enrollment schools, where part-time enrollment and work commitments affect completion timelines. Always look at a specific school's six-year rate, not the state average.

Where are the best nursing programs in Vermont?

Ranked by annual nursing and health program graduates, the top nursing schools in Vermont are University of Vermont, Vermont State University and Community College of Vermont. These rankings use IPEDS completions data for CIP 51 (health professions), schools that produce the largest number of graduates per year. Availability varies by credential level; confirm whether a school offers BSN, ADN, or graduate nursing tracks before applying.

What is the cheapest college in Vermont?

Community College of Vermont is the most affordable college in Vermont by net price at $13,696 per year. Net price is what students pay after grants and scholarships. The actual cost for lower-income students can be significantly less. Community colleges and public schools dominate the low-cost end, though some private colleges with strong aid programs compete on net price despite higher sticker tuitions.

What are the most popular majors at colleges in Vermont?

The most-completed fields of study across Vermont colleges are Health, Business, Social Sciences and Computer Science, based on IPEDS degree completion records. High completion numbers reflect both student demand and how many schools offer the program. Larger public universities drive a lot of the volume. If you're choosing a major based on earnings potential, look at the career outcomes for each field rather than how many students study it.

Vermont at a Glance

Total Colleges: 10
Avg UCD Score: 59.9
Avg Net Price / yr: $27,584
Avg Acceptance Rate: 62.2%
Median Earnings (10yr): $50,930

Browse All Colleges

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Programs Browse 375 specific degree programs. See completion counts, earnings outcomes, and the colleges awarding the most graduates each year.

Careers Look up 395 BLS occupations. Get median wages, growth projections, education requirements, and the majors leading to each career.

Colleges in Vermont

About Vermont

Why Study in Vermont?

How Vermont Compares