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Vermont Colleges & Universities

Find the Vermont college or university that’s right for you

The Vermont Department of Labor projects that by the year 2024, 70% of high growth-high wage jobs will require a postsecondary degree or credential of value. The Department also  projects that by that time, Vermont will have nearly 3,300 new job openings each year—due to both growth and replacing retiring workers—that require at least a postsecondary certificate degree.

The State of Vermont offers plenty of opportunities to get a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate-level degree—with 22 colleges and universities as well as 4 out-of-state colleges with campuses in Vermont.

Click on the tabs below to find the Vermont college or university that might be right for you. Or, learn more about short-term career training options.

Community colleges & colleges offering associate degrees

Champlain College

College type: Private, offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and certificate programs

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

Year founded: 1878

Location: Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Dublin, Ireland, and Montreal, Quebec

What they offer: Champlain College is a private baccalaureate institution focused on offering a career-accelerated education that leads to real opportunities in the marketplace and provides students with one of the most comprehensive educations available anywhere. Champlain College's signature entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to professional preparation, nationally-acclaimed Core Curriculum, and tradition of working with students individually combine to create an education that is truly like no other. Through Champlain's distinctive, experience-based approach to education, students learn real skills and get real experience.

Community College of Vermont

College type: Public, community college offering associate degree and certificate programs

College size: Medium (5,000–15,000 students)

Year founded: 1970

Locations: Academic centers across Vermont in: Bennington, Brattleboro, Middlebury, Montpelier, Morrisville, Newport, Rutland, Springfield, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Upper Valley, and Winooski and online learning options

What they offer: Community College of Vermont (or CCV) is a nonresidential college providing an affordable education to 7,000 students each semester. CCV’s open admissions policy and broad transfer opportunities make it possible for everyone to access higher education. CCV has transfer agreements with 20+ 4-year colleges, including the University of Vermont and the Vermont State Colleges. With 12 locations and extensive online learning options, students don’t have to travel far from their communities to access degree and certificate programs, continuing education opportunities, and academic support services. Whether you want an associate degree or just a few classes, you can start your college education at CCV.

Landmark College

College type: Private, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees, and a certificate program

Size: Very small (<1,000 students)

Year founded: 1985

Location: Putney, Vermont

What they offer: Landmark College, a global leader of integrated teaching methods for students with learning disabilities (like dyslexia), ADHD, and ASD, offers 2- and 4-year degree options and summer programs for high school and visiting college students. Students, faculty, and other professionals from all over the world are drawn to Landmark College for its innovative educational model, which has been developed over nearly 3 decades of working with students who learn differently. Landmark’s curriculum, designed for students to master academic skills and strategies in a way that builds from semester to semester, helps them become confident, self-empowered, and independently successful learners.

Vermont State University (VTSU)

College type: Public, offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and certificate programs

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

What they offer: Vermont State University provides quality, flexible and affordable education that combines experiential and classroom education on five campuses across Vermont. 

Locations: 

4-year colleges & universities (many offer graduate programs)

Bennington College

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and a certificate program

Size: Very small (<1,000 students)

Year founded: 1932

Location: Bennington, Vermont

What they offer: At Bennington, students craft unique educational paths around driving questions and interests. Under the guidance of their faculty and through a structure called the Plan Process, students explore their academic interests and progressively hone in on what binds their passions and connects their pursuits. During the winter Field Work Term, every student spends 7 weeks at work in the world pursuing jobs, internships, and entrepreneurial endeavors related to their studies and professional ambitions. By the time they graduate, Bennington students have acquired at least 4 jobs or internship experiences and the confidence to set the direction of their life’s work—as they did for their Bennington education.

Champlain College

College type: Private, offering offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and certificate programs

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

Year founded: 1878

Location: Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Dublin, Ireland, and Montreal, Quebec

What they offer: Champlain College is a private baccalaureate institution focused on offering career-accelerated education that leads to real opportunities in the marketplace and provides students with one of the most comprehensive educations available anywhere. Champlain College's signature entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to professional preparation, nationally-acclaimed Core Curriculum, and tradition of working with students individually combine to create an education that is truly like no other. Through Champlain's distinctive, experience-based approach to education, students learn real skills and get real experience.

Goddard College

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees degrees

Size: Very small (< 1,000 students)

Year founded: 1938

Location: Plainfield, Vermont, with additional campuses in Port Townsend and Seattle, Washington

What they offer: The mission of Goddard College is to advance cultures of rigorous inquiry, collaboration and lifelong learning, where individuals take imaginative and responsible action in the world. Goddard’s low-residency semester format comprises an intensive 8-day residency on campus, and 16 weeks of independent work and self-reflection in close collaboration with a faculty advisor. The college pioneered this format nearly a half century ago particularly to meet the needs of adult students with professional, family, and other obligations seeking learning experiences with relevance in real-world circumstances.

Landmark College

College type: Private, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees, and a certificate program

Size: Very small (<1,000 students)

Year founded: 1985

Location: Putney, Vermont

What they offer: Landmark College, a global leader of integrated teaching methods for students with learning disabilities (like dyslexia), ADHD, and ASD, offers 2- and 4-year degree options and summer programs for high school and visiting college students. Students, faculty, and other professionals from all over the world are drawn to Landmark College for its innovative educational model, which has been developed over nearly 3 decades of working with students who learn differently. Landmark’s curriculum, designed for students to master academic skills and strategies in a way that builds from semester to semester, helps them become confident, self-empowered, and independently successful learners.

Middlebury College

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

Year founded: 1800

Location: Middlebury, Vermont

What they offer: Middlebury College combines an intense, personal education with a global perspective and an international network found nowhere else. With a focus on the environment, international education, and opportunities to apply the liberal arts, the College enables young people to develop cultural fluency and gives them the tools needed to solve complex problems

Norwich University

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and a certificate program

Size: Small (1,000–5,000)

Year founded: 1819

Location: Northfield, Vermont

What they offer: Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the country and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Norwich is a coeducational, four-year university where students choose either a military or traditional civilian lifestyle, and both the civilian students and military cadets live by an honor code. Norwich combines the amenities of a large university with the environment and personalization of a small college, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Saint Michael's College

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and certificate programs

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

Year founded: 1904

Location: Colchester, Vermont

What they offer: At Saint Michael’s, you’ll learn what matters. Saint Michael’s College is an academically challenging, competitive institution of just under 2,000 students, with over 30 majors and minors and three master’s programs. St. Mike’s students are committed to service, the environment and exploring the world through internships, faculty-student research and world travel. Housing is guaranteed for all 4 years on our beautiful 440-acre campus overlooking the Green Mountains, located just minutes from downtown Burlington. An elite Phi Beta Kappa institution with an Honors program, a 12:1 faculty-student ratio and an average class size of 19, Saint Michael’s also hosts 21 NCAA Division II varsity athletic teams.

Springfield College School of Professional and Continuing Studies

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees

Size: Very small (<1,000 students)

Year founded: 1885

Location: Satellite campus in St. Johnsbury, Vermont (main campus in Springfield, Massachusetts)

What they offer: The School of Professional and Continuing Studies bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are perfect for adults who wish to transform their careers and their communities. Whether you’ve been out of school for five, 10, even 20 or more years, you’ll find that we make the transition as easy for you as possible. Beginning with weekend programs that can often be completed in 16 months, School of Professional and Continuing Studies programs are designed for adults who care about people above all else.

Sterling College

College type: Private, offering bachelor’s degrees

Size: Very small (<1,000 students)

Year founded: 1958

Location: Craftsbury Common, Vermont

What they offer: Sterling College is a small and progressive liberal arts college in northern Vermont. Sterling College’s small size, environmental focus, and commitment to grassroots sustainability all make the college unique. The Sterling College community combines structured academic study with experiential challenges and plain hard work to build responsible problem solvers who become stewards of the environment as they pursue productive lives.

University of Vermont (UVM)

College type: Public, offering bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees, continuing education, and certificate programs

Size: Medium (12,000–15,000 students)

Year founded: 1791

Location: Burlington, Vermont

What they offer: The University of Vermont is a top public research university of a perfect size, large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources and opportunities, yet small enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of students, from bachelor’s to graduate and doctoral programs. Here, student’s educational experiences and activities are enriched by our location—from the energy and innovation of Burlington, to the lake, mountains, and independent spirit of Vermont. UVM provides students endless ways to explore the world and dig into the most pressing issues of our time.

Affordability at UVM 

UVM Promise closes the financial gap — no matter how big — between federal, state, and other aid and UVM tuition. Admitted Vermont first-year and transfer, dependent undergraduate students starting in fall 2024 or later, whose parents' adjusted gross income (AGI) is $75,000 or less with typical assets, will receive federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships to cover tuition and the comprehensive fee, as well as a waiver for the University acceptance fee.

Vermont State University (VTSU)

College type: Public, offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and certificate programs

Size: Small (1,000–5,000 students)

Location: Five campuses with additional sites to meet students where they are.

What they offer: Vermont State University provides quality, flexible and affordable education that combines experiential and classroom education on five campuses across Vermont. 

Locations: 

Graduate schools

 

SIT Graduate Institute

College type: Private, offering master’s degrees and graduate certificates

Size: Very small (<1,000)

Year founded: 1964

Location: Brattleboro, Vermont (with additional branch campus in Washington, D.C.)

What they offer: SIT is a nonprofit, accredited graduate school that offers master’s degrees and graduate level certificates and professional development programs. SIT prepares students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible global citizenship. SIT Graduate Institute offers programs in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, as well as sustainable development, international education, and peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Southern New Hampshire University

College type: Private

Size: Large (>15,000)

Year founded: 1932

Location: Graduate program offered in Colchester (main campuses in Manchester/Hooksett, New Hampshire)

What they offer: SNHU offers a Graduate Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Vermont. Classes meet 1 weekend per month in Burlington, Vermont, at the Howard Center for Human Services. The Graduate Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling works closely with the Vermont Division of Mental Health and Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, within the Department of Health.

University of Vermont College of Medicine

College type: Medical school

College size: Very small (<1,000)

Year founded: 1822

Location: Burlington, Vermont

What they offer: As the 7th oldest medical school in the nation, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont has a longstanding reputation for educating and training superb physicians and scientists, fostering groundbreaking research to improve patients' lives, and actively engaging with the community of Vermont and the region.

Vermont College of Fine Arts

College type: Private, graduate, art school

College size: Very small (<1,000)

Year founded: 2008

Location: Montpelier, Vermont

What they offer: Through its low-residency model, Vermont College of Fine Arts offers masters of fine arts degrees in writing, writing for children & young adults, visual art, music composition, graphic design, and film. During the twice-per-year residencies on the Montpelier campus, students immerse themselves in readings, workshops, lectures, panels, performances, exhibits, and discussions. VCFA’s graduate programs are uniquely suited to professionals, artists, musicians, and teachers seeking to refine their skills, develop a body of work, explore new styles, and advance their careers.

Vermont Law & Graduate School

College type: Private, Law School

College size: Very small (<1,000)

Year founded: 1972

Location: South Royalton, Vermont

What they offer: Vermont Law and Graduate School, a private, independent institution, is home to a Law School that offers both residential and online hybrid JD programs and a Graduate School that offers master’s degrees and certificates in multiple disciplines, including programs offered by the School for the Environment, the Center for Justice Reform, and other graduate-level programs emphasizing the intersection of environmental justice, social justice and public policy. Both the Law and Graduate Schools strongly feature experiential clinical and field work learning.