Best Colleges in Vermont (2023 Rankings)

Whether you're interested in humanities or health care, Vermont has a college that can't wait to help you achieve your career goals! Join us as we break down our top choices for the best colleges in Vermont (in no particular order), complete with an overview of what each has to offer.

From celebrated public research universities to the oldest military school in the nation, Vermont offers an impressive variety of schools with options for every student.

Middlebury College

Tuition: $58,316

Fast facts:

• 2,580 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 22%
• Graduation rate: 87% (4-year), 94% (6-year)

Let's dive right in with Middlebury College, a private liberal arts college that offers over 50 areas of study to choose from. It's particularly renowned for its top-shelf language schools, international and global studies programs, and study abroad opportunities.

Middlebury is also home to the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the nation. Whether you want to earn a master's degree in English or explore the school's solid list of pre-professional programs, you'll enjoy the benefits of a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and average class sizes of just 16 students.

Middlebury's beautiful campus sprawls across the Champlain Valley between Vermont's Green Mountains and New York's Adirondacks, so you'll find no shortage of outdoor programs among the school's 200 student organizations. Best of all, Middlebury has a great financial aid program that meets 100% of the calculated financial need of every student who enrolls.

You might also like: Goddard College, Plainfield

University of Vermont, Burlington

In-state Tuition: $19,062

Out-of-state Tuition: $43,950

Fast facts:

• 11,136 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 71%
• Graduation rate: 64% (4-year), 76% (6-year)

The University of Vermont (UVM) is a top public research university that traces its roots all the way back to 1791. Today, UVM offers everything from bachelor's degrees to graduate and doctoral programs, all on a gorgeous campus that's dedicated to sustainability.

Choose from over 100 different majors and nearly 100 diverse graduate programs. Whether you want to study medicine or marketing, UVM offers plenty of great choices, including accelerated degree options.

Join the 80% of students on campus who participate in one of over 300 student organizations, sports clubs, and Greek chapters. Find out firsthand why the vibrant, artsy town of Burlington is consistently ranked among the best college towns in the nation! Oh, and did we mention it also happens to be located within 50 miles of more than six top ski resorts?

You might also like: Northern Vermont University, Johnson or Lyndon

Saint Michael's College, Colchester

Tuition: $48,175

Fast facts:

• 1,537 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 88%
• Graduation rate: 72% (4-year), 75% (6-year)

Want to enjoy all the perks of Burlington on a smaller, more intimate campus? Check out Saint Michael's College (St. Mike's), a small private school located in the nearby town of Colchester.

St. Mike's offers a great blend of Catholic identity and inclusion, as students from all faiths and backgrounds are welcomed. Choose from over 40 majors and minors ranging from art and design and digital media to international relations and journalism.

If you're into sports, then check out St. Mike's Purple Knights sports teams, which tie for the number one Division II national rank! Get involved with one of over 40 student clubs on campus, or head over to the Adventure Sports Center where you'll find opportunities to kayak, climb, ski, and more.

You might also like: Sterling College, Craftsbury Common

Bennington College, Bennington

Tuition: $58,124

Fast facts:

• 697 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 60%
• Graduation rate: 61% (4-year), 71% (6-year)

Looking for a great place to dive headfirst into your creativity? Check out Bennington College, a tight-knit private liberal arts college with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio.

Here you'll have the chance to chart your own course of study as you explore courses in animation and production design, drama, literature, and more. Bennington also offers several great graduate degrees in select fields like writing, music, dance, and public action.

By the time they graduate, 87% of Bennington students have achieved creative milestones like producing an album, publishing their writing, or exhibiting their artwork. With over 40 different student clubs and plenty of great volunteer and internship opportunities, Bennington is an epic journey of self-discovery begging to happen.

You might also like: Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier (graduate degrees only)

Norwich University, Northfield

Tuition: $42,950

Fast facts:

• 3,236 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 74%
• Graduation rate: 50% (4-year), 57% (6-year)

Founded in 1819, Norwich University is the oldest private military college in America, not to mention the birthplace of the ROTC. Within eight months of graduating, an impressive 90% of Norwich students go on to serve in the military, start a business, pursue a graduate degree, or find employment either privately or for agencies like the FBI, CIA, or NSA.

Norwich University offers an impressive number of majors, minors, and graduate degree programs. You could choose to earn your bachelor's degree in anything from Computer Science to Architecture and Art.

Or earn an online master's degree in Criminal Justice, Defense Policy, or Nursing. Whether you're a recent high school student interested in studying on campus or want to study online at your own pace, Norwich has a program for everyone.

You might also like: Landmark College, Putney

Champlain College, Burlington

Tuition: $42,748

Fast facts:

• 3,512 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• Graduation rate: 57% (4-year), 66% (6-year)

If you're an out-of-the-box thinker who loves a good hands-on approach to learning, then Champlain College may be the school for you. The not-for-profit private college has an "upside-down curriculum" that offers students the chance to take significant courses in their major right away.

Choose from 116 different areas of study, including options like multiple game design and production programs, professional writing, computer and digital forensics, and more. With a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 14, you'll enjoy plenty of individual support as you chart your own unique course.

Champlain College also boasts international campus locations in Canada and Ireland, and over half the student population takes the opportunity to study abroad. And don't even get us started on the cool dorms - every incoming freshman gets to live in one of the over 20 gorgeous Victorian-era mansions surrounding the campus!

You might also like: Vermont Technical College, Randolph

Castleton University, Castleton

In-state Tuition: $13,044

Out-of-state Tuition: $30,012

Fast facts:

• 1,744 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 88%
• Graduation rate: 46% (4-year), 57% (6-year)

Founded in 1787, Castleton University claims the honor of Vermont's first public institution of higher education. One of the five state colleges that collectively make up the Vermont State University system, Castleton is set on a beautiful 165-acre campus at the foot of the Green Mountains.

Should you opt for enrollment, you'll enjoy your choice of over 75 programs of study in anything from archeology to athletic training. Castleton also offers a solid selection of graduate programs, including several master's degrees in Education.

Home of the Spartans, Castleton also boasts 28 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams plus intramurals like flag football - just in case you aren't quite ready to go pro. You'll also find over 50 student clubs on campus dedicated to everything from esports and backcountry angling to random acts of kindness.

You might also like: Community College of Vermont, Winooski

You might also like:Vermont colleges FAQ

Does Vermont have good colleges?

Vermont offers an impressive number of colleges for such a small state, from top-ranking public research universities to small but mighty private institutions. We're particularly impressed with the strong number of programs dedicated to creativity, sustainability, and social justice within Vermont's higher education system.

What is the number one best college in Vermont?

It's hard to argue with Middlebury's incredibly impressive graduation rates. But the great thing about Vermont is that it offers plenty of four-year colleges that specialize in different fields, which is why it's important to focus on the school that aligns with your interests.

Are there any Ivy League colleges in Vermont?

While there aren't technically any Ivy League schools in Vermont, the University of Vermont-Burlington is one of the original "Public Ivies." This basically means it offers top-notch academics that rival those you'll find at Ivy League universities.

Find the perfect Vermont school with College Rover

Whether you're looking to earn an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or graduate degree, College Rover was designed to help you find the perfect school for you. Our user-friendly tools make it easy to find top schools and programs based on your own unique filters and preferences.

Find the perfect university for you or compare your top choices side by side. At College Rover, we're all about paving the road to higher education with simple, accessible tools for every student.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.