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Vermont

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University of Vermont

PublicCDS 2025–26Burlington, VTEst. 1791 · 459 acres
College town
Admit Rate73%
4-Yr Grad72.3%
Net Price / YrNot reportedMid-income est., in-state
Small Classes43.1%Under 20 students

Vermont's flagship draws four out of five of its first-years from out of state, so for most families the number that decides it is the $49,713 out-of-state price, not the $19,996 in-state one.

University of Vermont admits 73% of applicants and is known for generous merit scholarships available regardless of financial need — 5,521 students received awards averaging $16,592 last year. 72.3% of students graduate in 4 years. Burlington is Vermont's economic centre, and UVM's pipeline runs through the medical centre sitting on the edge of campus plus a small but real Champlain Valley cluster in semiconductors, electric aviation and consumer brands.

12,159 undergraduates

Vermont residents, for whom the in-state price is the strongest argumentStudents who want mountains, lake and trails inside an hour of the dormAnyone aiming at environmental science, natural resources or the health professions

At a Glance

Vermont admits 73% of applicants.

Overall admit rate73%
ED admit rate91.7%
Test policyTest Optional
SAT mid-50%1300–1430 · 32% submitted
ACT mid-50%29–33 · 8% submitted

What You'll Actually Pay

See what families at different income levels actually pay after aid.

Net price data temporarily unavailable. Visit each school's net price calculator directly.

Where the Sticker Price Goes

Sticker price

Not reported by this school

Debt at Graduation

42.4%

receive need-based grant aid

$34,870

average debt at graduation

Vermont graduates carry an average of $34,870 in debt.

Merit Aid

5,521

students received merit aid

$16,592

average merit award

Getting In

Vermont admits 73% of applicants.

University of Vermont's Early Decision applicants are admitted at 1x the rate of Regular Decision applicants — 91.7% vs 72.7%. Note: ED is binding — you commit to attending if admitted.

SAT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 32% of the class submitted

13001430

ACT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 8% of the class submitted

2933

35% were in the top 10% of their high school class.

What They Value

Academic

Course rigor (AP/IB)Very Important
Class rankConsidered
GPAVery Important
SAT/ACT scoresConsidered
Personal essayImportant
RecommendationsImportant

Nonacademic

ExtracurricularsImportant
Special talentImportant
CharacterImportant
First-gen statusImportant
Legacy status
Where you're fromImportant
In-state residencyImportant
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Demonstrated interestConsidered

University of Vermont considers your essay Important — a strong essay can differentiate an otherwise average application. Demonstrated interest is Considered — showing genuine engagement with this school may help your application.

Student Life

43.1% of Vermont classes have fewer than 20 students.

Share of undergraduate class sections at each size, from CDS Section I-3. More red = more large lectures.

2-9 students10-19 students20-29 students30-39 students40-49 students50-99 students100+ students

At Vermont, 43.1% of your classes will have fewer than 20 students.

Class size data reflects all undergraduate sections including labs, seminars, and lectures. Large research universities often have smaller upper-division and graduate-level sections that improve the overall distribution. First and second-year students typically experience larger classes than these averages suggest.

Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, Section I-3 (class sizes)

17:1

student:faculty ratio

Campus Life

From out of state (freshman class)

79.3%

Live on campus

34.7%

Men in fraternities

6.6%

Women in sororities

3.4%

Who Attends

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduates, as reported in each school's Common Data Set. "Unknown / Other" includes students who did not report or selected "other."

Vermont's student body is 80.6% white.

Popular Majors

Natural resources and conservation13.02%
Biological/life sciences10.82%
Social sciences9.45%
Business/marketing8.52%
Health professions and related programs8.44%

Will They Graduate?

Vermont graduates 72.3% of students in 4 years.

Graduating late means paying for extra semesters. The 6-year rate tells you who eventually finishes — the 4-year rate tells you what it actually costs.

Vermont graduates 72.3% of students in 4 years.

What finishing late actually costs

Based on each school's published cost of attendance. Public school costs shown at in-state rates.

Vermont

72.3%

4-yr grad rate

Data pending

* In-state cost of attendance. Out-of-state students pay significantly more.

Graduation rate data from Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2018 cohort (most recent available). 4-year rate = students completing in 4 years or less. 6-year rate = students completing within 6 years.

81%

Overall 6-yr rate

82%

Pell recipient rate

Lower-income students graduate at nearly the same rate as their peers — a sign of strong institutional support.

Freshman Retention

89.36%

89.36% of first-year students return for sophomore year.

City & Culture

Beyond the data — what it's actually like to spend four years in Burlington.

Burlington sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks across the water and the Green Mountains behind it, and UVM occupies the hill directly above downtown — the Church Street Marketplace is a walk, not a drive. It is Vermont's largest city and its economic centre, but Montréal is closer than Boston.

Notable Alumni

Science

John Dewey

Philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas reshaped American schooling; he took his degree at Vermont and is buried on the campus

Class of 1879

Politics

Jody Williams

Won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for leading the international campaign to ban anti-personnel landmines, after taking her bachelor's degree at Vermont

Class of 1972

Media

Henry Jarvis Raymond

Co-founder and first editor of The New York Times, who graduated from Vermont with high honors before moving into New York journalism and politics

Class of 1840

Sports

Martin St. Louis

Hockey Hall of Famer and Stanley Cup winner who is still Vermont's all-time leading scorer, and now coaches in the NHL

Class of 1997

Alumni selected for name recognition and range of fields. Not from the Common Data Set.

The City

College town

Burlington, VT

Best For

Vermont residents, for whom the in-state price is the strongest argumentStudents who want mountains, lake and trails inside an hour of the dormAnyone aiming at environmental science, natural resources or the health professionsOut-of-state students who want a flagship where most classmates also came from away

Traditions

Hockey at Gutterson Fieldhouse

Men's and women's ice hockey play in Hockey East rather than America East, and 'The Gut' is the building that actually fills. Students get in free with an ID, and it is the closest thing UVM has to a football Saturday.

The UVM Outing Club

Student-run since 1913, it runs day, weekend and week-long trips in rock and ice climbing, canoeing, kayaking, backcountry skiing and hiking. The outdoors here is organised and cheap to get into rather than something you arrange yourself.

SpringFest

The UVM Program Board's outdoor spring concert on the Fleming Green, the largest show of the year, with the winner of the student Battle of the Bands opening it.

Weekend Escapes

Within driving distance from Burlington

Stowe

45 minutes

The nearest big mountain, and the reason a lot of students arrive with skis.

Montréal

1 hour 45 minutes

The nearest major city, across the Canadian border — a passport turns it into a routine weekend.

Boston

3 hours 30 minutes

The closest major U.S. city, and the practical domestic connection for anyone flying home.

Getting There & Game Days

Nearest airport

Patrick Leahy Burlington International (BTV)

10 minutes from campus

For international flights: Montréal–Trudeau International (YUL) — about 1 hour 45 minutes by road, including the border crossing.

Pro sports nearby

  • Montréal Canadiens NHLAbout 1 hour 45 minutes, including the border crossing away
  • Boston Red Sox MLBAbout 3 hours 30 minutes away
  • Boston Celtics NBAAbout 3 hours 30 minutes away

Career Proximity

Burlington is Vermont's economic centre, and UVM's pipeline runs through the medical centre sitting on the edge of campus plus a small but real Champlain Valley cluster in semiconductors, electric aviation and consumer brands.

Top Industries Nearby

Health care & medicineSemiconductors & advanced manufacturingEnvironmental & natural resourcesConsumer brands & the outdoor industry

Major Employers

  • University of Vermont Medical Center
  • GlobalFoundries
  • BETA Technologies
  • Ben & Jerry's
  • Burton Snowboards

Burlington itself — the medical center adjoins campus; Montréal is about 1 hour 45 minutes north

Who Thrives Here

UVM admits 73.0% of applicants, so getting in is rarely the hard part — paying for it is. In-state students pay $19,996 in tuition and fees and everyone else pays $49,713, while 79.3% of the first-year class comes from out of state. The school meets 82.7% of demonstrated need on average and its graduates carry $34,870 in average debt, which is the figure to weigh against that out-of-state price; 5,521 undergraduates receive non-need-based awards averaging $16,592, so merit money does cut the sticker for some. Campus life is defined by what surrounds it: UVM sits on the hill above Burlington with Lake Champlain below and the Green Mountains behind, Stowe is 45 minutes away, and the student-run Outing Club has been running trips since 1913. Only 34.7% of undergraduates live in university housing and Greek life is small — 6.6% of men and 3.4% of women — so most upperclass students rent in Burlington. 72.3% finish in four years and 81.0% within six.

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