State Higher Education Guide

Vermont: Colleges & Universities

A comprehensive overview of colleges and universities in Vermont, including public institutions, private colleges, graduate schools, community colleges, and higher-education resources.

Introduction

Vermont has a distinctive higher-education landscape that combines public universities and colleges with a wide range of private liberal arts colleges, professional institutions, graduate schools, and specialized schools.

Vermont's public higher-education system includes the University of Vermont, Vermont State University, and the Community College of Vermont. The Vermont State Colleges System identifies Vermont State University and Community College of Vermont as the state's public higher-education system within the VSC structure.

Vermont is also home to nationally recognized private institutions such as Middlebury College, Bennington College, Norwich University, Champlain College, Landmark College, and Saint Michael's College.

Vermont Higher Education at a Glance

3

Public Institutions

1

Public Research University

1

Public University

1

Public Community College

13

Colleges & Universities

Public Colleges & Universities

Category	Number	Description
Public Research University	1	University of Vermont
Public University	1	Vermont State University
Public Community College	1	Community College of Vermont
Total Public Institutions	3	Vermont's current public higher-education institutions

Vermont's Public Institutions

#	Institution	Location	Type
1	University of Vermont	Burlington	Public Research University
2	Vermont State University	Multiple Vermont locations	Public University
3	Community College of Vermont	Multiple locations	Public Community College

Private & Independent Institutions

#	Institution	Location	Type
1	Bennington College	Bennington	Private Liberal Arts College
2	Champlain College	Burlington	Private College
3	Landmark College	Putney	Private College
4	Middlebury College	Middlebury	Private Liberal Arts College
5	Norwich University	Northfield	Private Military University
6	Saint Michael's College	Colchester	Private Liberal Arts College
7	SIT Graduate Institute	Brattleboro	Graduate Institution
8	Vermont College of Fine Arts	Montpelier	Graduate Arts Institution
9	Vermont Law and Graduate School	South Royalton	Law & Graduate School

Major Colleges & Universities in Vermont

Institution	City	Academic Focus
University of Vermont	Burlington	Research, medicine, engineering, agriculture, business and liberal arts
Middlebury College	Middlebury	Liberal arts, languages and international studies
Bennington College	Bennington	Liberal arts, arts and interdisciplinary education
Champlain College	Burlington	Business, technology, media and professional programs
Norwich University	Northfield	Military leadership, engineering, business and liberal arts
Saint Michael's College	Colchester	Liberal arts and undergraduate education

Community College of Vermont

The Community College of Vermont (CCV) is Vermont's public community college. It serves students through multiple academic centers across the state and online, providing associate degrees, certificates, workforce education and pathways to further study.

CCV provides an important access point for students seeking affordable higher education, career preparation, and transfer opportunities.

Types of Higher-Education Institutions in Vermont

• Research University: The University of Vermont provides undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral education and is Vermont's major public research institution.
• Public University: Vermont State University provides bachelor's and graduate-level programs across multiple Vermont locations.
• Community College: Community College of Vermont provides associate degrees, certificates, workforce education and transfer pathways.
• Private Liberal Arts Colleges: Vermont has several nationally recognized private liberal arts institutions, including Middlebury and Bennington.
• Specialized Institutions: The state also includes institutions focused on law, graduate education, the arts, technology and professional studies.

Areas of Academic Strength

Area	Examples
Medicine & Health	Medicine, nursing, health sciences and biomedical education
Environmental Studies	Environmental science, sustainability, natural resources and agriculture
Liberal Arts	Humanities, social sciences, languages, arts and interdisciplinary studies
Business & Technology	Business, information technology, cybersecurity, media and professional programs
Engineering	Engineering, mathematical sciences and technology-related programs

Why Study in Vermont?

• Vermont offers a compact but diverse higher-education environment.
• Students can choose among a public research university, a statewide public university and a public community college.
• The state has nationally recognized private liberal arts institutions.
• Vermont provides specialized graduate education in law, fine arts and international studies.
• Many institutions emphasize close faculty-student relationships, interdisciplinary learning and community engagement.
• Vermont's colleges provide pathways ranging from certificates and associate degrees to doctoral and professional education.

Important Current Status

Vermont's higher-education landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Several small private colleges have closed, merged or reorganized.

Sterling College, for example, concluded its degree programs at the end of the Spring 2026 semester following financial and enrollment challenges. It therefore is not included as a current operating degree-granting institution in this 2026 guide.

Because Vermont's higher-education landscape is changing, students should verify current admissions, accreditation and program availability directly with each institution.

Sources / References

1. Vermont State Colleges System
   https://www.vsc.edu/
2. Vermont Student Assistance Corporation – Vermont Colleges & Universities
   https://www.vsac.org/plan/searching-for-a-college/vt-colleges-universities
3. Vermont Statutes – Postsecondary Schools
   Vermont Statutes – 16 V.S.A. § 176
4. University of Vermont
   https://www.uvm.edu/
5. Vermont State University
   https://vermontstate.edu/
6. Community College of Vermont
   https://www.ccv.edu/
7. Sterling College – 2026 Transition Information
   https://www.sterlingcollege.edu/transition-plan
8. U.S. Department of Education – Vermont State Contacts
   https://www.ed.gov/about/contact-us/state-contacts/vt

Information compiled from official Vermont higher-education sources and updated for 2026.

Institution status and academic offerings may change as official information is updated.

© 2026 All Educators