Best Universities in Vermont

Top Universities in Vermont

University of Vermont (UVM)

The University of Vermont, located in Burlington, is a public research university founded in 1791. It offers a vibrant academic community with a strong focus on research, innovation, and sustainability. UVM offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #118 in National Universities.

Number of Students:

Approximately 13,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

UVM offers over 100 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as numerous graduate and professional programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 68%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1300.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Skiing and snowboarding, community service projects, outdoor recreation clubs.

Famous Alumni:

1. John Dewey – Philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer.
2. Bernie Sanders – U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate.
3. Timothy Cook – CEO of Apple Inc.
4. Madeleine Kunin – Former Governor of Vermont.
5. Richard Tarrant – Co-founder of IDX Systems Corporation.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. The University of Vermont Medical Center
2. GlobalFoundries
3. IBM
4. com
5. State of Vermont

Middlebury College

Middlebury College, located in Middlebury, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1800. It is renowned for its strong academic programs, particularly in languages, international studies, and environmental studies.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #4 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 2,500 students.

Degrees Offered:

Middlebury College offers bachelor’s degrees in over 45 majors and minors, with a focus on the liberal arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 16%.

Average SAT Score:

Middle 50% SAT scores range from 1330 to 1510.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Language clubs, outdoor adventure programs, cultural organizations.

Famous Alumni:

1. Julia Alvarez – Author and poet.
2. Chris Hayes – Journalist and host of “All In with Chris Hayes” on MSNBC.
3. Bill McKibben – Environmentalist and author.
4. John M. McHugh – Former U.S. Secretary of the Army.
5. Mae Jemison – Astronaut and the first African American woman in space.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Teach For America
2. IBM
3. Google
4. Deloitte
5. Amazon

Norwich University

Norwich University, located in Northfield, is a private military college founded in 1819. It is the oldest private military college in the United States and offers a rigorous academic curriculum combined with leadership training.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #62 in Regional Universities North.

Number of Students:

Approximately 3,500 students.

Degrees Offered:

Norwich University offers over 50 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as several graduate programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 66%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1150.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

ROTC programs, military training exercises, community service projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. William Yarborough – U.S. Army General and “Father of the Green Berets.”
2. Alden Partridge – Founder of Norwich University and U.S. Military Academy graduate.
3. Thomas P. Stafford – Former NASA astronaut and Air Force test pilot.
4. Keith Alexander – Former Director of the National Security Agency (NSA).
5. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. – Former U.S. Army General and Commander of Operation Desert Storm.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. S. Department of Defense
2. S. Army
3. Raytheon Technologies
4. IBM
5. General Dynamics

Bennington College

Bennington College, located in Bennington, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1932. It is known for its progressive approach to education and its emphasis on student-centered learning and interdisciplinary study.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #106 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 800 students.

Degrees Offered:

Bennington College offers bachelor’s degrees in various fields, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 61%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1270.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Creative writing workshops, performing arts productions, environmental activism.

Famous Alumni:

1. Donna Tartt – Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
2. Peter Dinklage – Emmy Award-winning actor known for his role in “Game of Thrones.”
3. Bret Easton Ellis – Author of “American Psycho.”
4. Pam Houston – Author and professor of English.
5. Holly Hunter – Academy Award-winning actress.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Bennington College
2. Vermont Department of Health
3. Southwest Vermont Medical Center
4. The Howard Center
5. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Champlain College

Champlain College, located in Burlington, is a private college known for its programs in business, technology, and creative fields. Founded in 1878, Champlain offers a career-focused education with opportunities for experiential learning and internships.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #83 in Regional Universities North.

Number of Students:

Approximately 4,500 students.

Degrees Offered:

Champlain College offers bachelor’s degrees in over 80 majors and minors, as well as several master’s programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 75%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1180.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Entrepreneurship clubs, gaming clubs, outdoor adventure clubs.

Famous Alumni:

1. John Abele – Co-founder of Boston Scientific Corporation.
2. Michael Arad – Architect of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
3. Hannah Kearney – Olympic gold medalist in freestyle skiing.
4. Bob Crowley – Winner of Survivor: Gabon.
5. Sarah Koenig – Host and producer of the podcast “Serial.”

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Champlain College
2. com
3. MyWebGrocer
4. State of Vermont
5. GlobalFoundries

Saint Michael’s College

Saint Michael’s College, located in Colchester, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1904. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and offers a liberal arts education with a focus on social justice and service.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #147 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 2,000 students.

Degrees Offered:

Saint Michael’s College offers bachelor’s degrees in over 30 majors and minors, with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts and sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 80%.

Average SAT Score:

The middle 50% SAT scores range from 1140 to 1330.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Community service projects, campus ministry programs, intramural sports.

Famous Alumni:

1. Bill O’Reilly – Former host of “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News.
2. Chris Bohjalian – Bestselling author of novels such as “Midwives” and “The Flight Attendant.”
3. Ray Greene – Musician and member of the band Soulive.
4. Martin C. Jischke – Former President of Purdue University.
5. Sander Levin – Former U.S. Representative for Michigan.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Saint Michael’s College
2. State of Vermont
3. University of Vermont Medical Center
4. IBM
5. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Castleton University

Castleton University, located in Castleton, is a public liberal arts university founded in 1787. It offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs with a focus on liberal arts education and professional development.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #64 in Regional Universities North.

Number of Students:

Approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students.

Degrees Offered:

Castleton University offers bachelor’s degrees in over 50 majors and minors, as well as several graduate programs.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 89%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1100.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Athletics, outdoor adventure clubs, community service projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. Anthony Fauci – Chief Medical Advisor to the President and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
2. Billy Collins – Former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
3. Alexander Twilight – First African American to earn a bachelor’s degree in the United States.
4. John V. H. Dippel – Former U.S. Ambassador to Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
5. Julia Alvarez – Award-winning author of novels such as “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents” and “In the Time of the Butterflies.”

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Castleton University
2. State of Vermont
3. Rutland Regional Medical Center
4. The Howard Center
5. Rutland City Public Schools

Vermont Technical College (VTC)

Vermont Technical College, located in Randolph Center, is a public technical college founded in 1866. It offers a variety of associate and bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as engineering, agriculture, nursing, and business.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #11 in Regional Colleges North.

Number of Students:

Approximately 1,800 students.

Degrees Offered:

Vermont Technical College offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in over 40 programs, including engineering technology, agriculture, nursing, and business.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 87%.

Average SAT Score:

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1050.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Career-focused clubs and organizations, agricultural activities, community service projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. Phil Scott – Governor of Vermont.
2. Peter Shumlin – Former Governor of Vermont.
3. Taryn Manning – Actress and singer known for her role in “Orange is the New Black.”
4. Richard Tarrant – Co-founder of IDX Systems Corporation.
5. John J. Dillon – Former President of the University of Vermont.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Vermont Technical College
2. GlobalFoundries
3. IBM
4. State of Vermont
5. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Goddard College

Goddard College, located in Plainfield, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1938. It offers a unique low-residency model of education, allowing students to design their own individualized degree programs.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #187 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Number of Students:

Approximately 700 students.

Degrees Offered:

Goddard College offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in various fields, including the arts, education, psychology, and social sciences.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 100%.

Average SAT Score:

Goddard College does not require SAT scores for admission.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Creative writing workshops, artistic residencies, community-based projects.

Famous Alumni:

1. Michael J. Fox – Emmy Award-winning actor known for his roles in “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future.”
2. Barbara Kingsolver – Bestselling author of novels such as “The Poisonwood Bible” and “The Bean Trees.”
3. Roy Lichtenstein – Pop art pioneer and painter.
4. Alison Bechdel – Cartoonist and author of the graphic memoir “Fun Home.”
5. Mary McGrory – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Goddard College
2. State of Vermont
3. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
4. University of Vermont Medical Center
5. Vermont Agency of Education

Community College of Vermont (CCV)

The Community College of Vermont, with locations throughout the state, is a public college offering associate degrees and certificate programs. Established in 1970, CCV provides accessible and affordable higher education opportunities to Vermont residents.

U.S. News Ranking:

Ranked #15 in Regional Colleges North.

Number of Students:

Approximately 5,500 students.

Degrees Offered:

CCV offers associate degrees and certificate programs in various fields, including business, healthcare, liberal arts, and technology.

Acceptance Rate:

Around 100%.

Average SAT Score:

The Community College of Vermont does not require SAT scores for admission.

Most Popular Extracurricular Activities:

Career workshops, community service projects, academic support programs.

Famous Alumni:

1. Peter Welch – U.S. Representative for Vermont.
2. Jim Douglas – Former Governor of Vermont.
3. Bernie Sanders – U.S. Senator from Vermont.
4. Howard Dean – Former Governor of Vermont and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
5. Madeleine Kunin – Former Governor of Vermont.

Top Companies Hiring Graduates:

1. Community College of Vermont
2. State of Vermont
3. The University of Vermont Medical Center
4. Rutland Regional Medical Center
5. Howard Center