Why This Matters
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16 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN VERMONT
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Vermont include 5 public and 11 private non-profit options.
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$17,651 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Vermont is $17,651, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Vermont. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the northeastern United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 12 Colleges in Vermont

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Vermont
As you consider different college options, think about how a degree will prepare you for the workforce and a career. Vermont’s five largest industries are office and administrative support occupations, educational instruction and library occupations, management, food preparation and serving, and sales.
The state’s fastest-growing careers for workers with a bachelor’s degree are data scientists, information security analysts, coaches and scouts, interpreters and translators, and logisticians. Having a degree that’s relevant to one of these fields can help you quickly secure employment after finishing school.
You should also become familiar with the biggest employers in Vermont, which include the University of Vermont, GlobalFoundries, Jay Peak Resort, Killington Resort, and the Howard Center. There are many other employers who have a substantial number of workers as well.
What’s Next?
As you review the different colleges in Vermont, investigate the financial aid options that you might qualify for. Here are some federal and state resources to help you identify scholarship, grant, and other opportunities in Vermont:
- Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). This organization’s website offers information about loans, grants, and scholarships that Vermont college students may be able to take advantage of.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.