Top Value Colleges in Vermont
Top Value Vermont Colleges
Below you will find a list of the top value colleges in Vermont that we found to provide the highest academic and career-based value for students. In our study, we utilized a number of data sources from the US Census Bureau to the US Department of Education coupled with student and alumni feedback to ascertain the important elements of value in a college education. Our team collected college data and arrived at the top value Vermont colleges for you to research further. Remember to use your best judgment and prioritize your academic goals and career aspirations to narrow down your list of top colleges.
List of Top Value Vermont Colleges
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is one of the most distinguished liberal arts colleges in the United States based in Middlebury, Vermont. The college was established in 1800 to train men from the states and nearby areas for the ministry and other professions. Middlebury has other locations in Vermont, California, and other parts of the world. With more than 3,000 students across all locations, the college offers 44 majors and 11 graduate and summer programs in the fields of natural sciences, languages, social sciences, and economics. Widely known for its programs in environmental studies, the college also offers a wide variety of language programs on its campuses around the world like the Middlebury Language Schools and Middlebury Institute of International Studies. As an accredited institution of the New England Commission of Higher Education, the programs are offered through 8 academic divisions namely The Arts, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Literature, Languages, Cultures, and Literatures, Interdisciplinary Minors, Interdisciplinary Programs, and Humanities. Middlebury also offers special programs such as Exchange Programs, Combined Degree Programs, Pre-medical, Pre-dental, and Pre-veterinary Programs, and Semester at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont is a public land-grant research university in Burlington, Vermont that was founded in 1791, making it the 5th oldest university in New England. Since 1862, the university has been officially named The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College after the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant College Act. More than 11,000 undergraduates may choose from over 100 bachelor’s and 35 accelerated master’s degree programs across 12 schools and colleges which include the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Grossman School of Business, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, and Continuing and Distance Education. As a fully accredited institution of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the university offers nearly 90 master’s and doctorate degree programs, an M.D. program, and 4 pre-professional programs to more than 2,000 graduate and medical students. Nearly 24% of undergraduates apply to more than 500 study abroad programs in over 70 countries. All students also have access to the Howe and Dana libraries as well as to specialized facilities like STEM complex, Stafford Center for Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and on-campus medical center.
Saint Michael’s College
Saint Michael’s College (St. Mike’s) is a private Catholic liberal arts college located in Colchester, Vermont. Established in 1904 by the Society of Saint Edmund, the college is the sole Edmundite college worldwide. Ranked as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the United States, St. Mike’s enrolls nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 24 countries. The college offers more than 40 majors and minors across 14 academic departments like Art, Biology, Computer Science, Education, History, Literature, and Medical. Aside from these, students may choose from different graduate and post-baccalaureate certificates and programs in the fields of education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Clinical Psychology, as well as dual degree programs, pre-professional programs, and accelerated programs. All students can choose from more than 100 study abroad programs in many countries like Argentina, China, Tanzania, Denmark, and England.
Vermont Technical College
As one of the colleges under the Vermont State Colleges System, Vermont Technical College (Vermont Tech) is a public technical college in Vermont with its main campuses in Randolph Center and Williston. The college has regional campuses in Brattleboro and Bennington, as well as nursing campuses in six locations within the state. The college offers certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees through an accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education. Vermont Tech has 5 schools namely the School of Agriculture Plant and Animal Sciences, School of Engineering and Computing, School of General Education, School of Nursing and Health Professions, and School of Professional Studies and Management. More than 1,500 students can choose to take their classes on-campus or online as the programs are offered either entirely on-campus and online, or hybrid. The Center for Academic Success also helps students with academics, time management, social adjustment, and financial literacy through academic tutoring, counseling, mentoring, career planning, access to available accommodations, and technology resources.
Norwich University
Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States located in Northfield, Vermont. With more than 200 years of providing education, the university is the birthplace of America’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). With more than 4,000 on-campus and online students, the college offers more than 50 undergraduate and master’s degrees, as well as graduate certificates and professional programs. The university is home to five colleges namely the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, College of Liberal Arts, College of National Services, College of Professional Schools, and College of Science and Mathematics. Through the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, the university offers nearly 25 online certificate and degree programs that lead to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Several scholarships are also available to qualified students, and these include academic scholarships like Presidential Scholarship and Provost Scholarship, and service/leadership scholarships like JROTC Leadership Award and High School Service Award.
Sterling College
Sterling College is a private liberal arts college based in Craftsbury, Vermont known for its ecological thinking and action-focused programs. Started as a boys’ boarding school in 1958, the college is among the 8 colleges in the Work Colleges Consortium. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Sterling features nearly 10 majors and minors focused on different environmental fields. Some of these programs are Ecology, Climate Justice, Environmental Humanities, Outdoor Education, and Sustainable Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems. Students may also choose the Self-Designed Major which includes the interdisciplinary study of courses within the existing majors to create their own major. The college also has The School of the New American Farmstead which offers courses and professional certificates in artisanal food production and regenerative farming.
Champlain College
Champlain College is a private college headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, and has campuses in Dublin, Ireland, and Montreal, Canada. It was established in 1878 as the Burlington Collegiate Institute and Commercial College. Consistently listed as one of the best and most interesting schools in the United States, Champlain offers both on-campus and online undergraduate courses and programs in more than 80 areas of study across 5 academic divisions namely Robert P. Stiller School of Business, Division of Communication & Creative Media, Division of Education & Human Studies, Division of Champlain College Online, and Division of Information Technology & Sciences. The Division of Champlain College Online offers 100% online certificate, associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, cybersecurity, healthcare, and information technology. Recognized as a 2021 College of Distinction, the college is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Students may also create their own major through the Degree Design Lab which combines courses and experiences to create a personalized education.
Castleton University
As the first institution of higher learning in the state, Castleton University is a public liberal arts university based in Castleton, Vermont. Since 1787, the university has been providing liberal arts education with a personalized approach as one of the colleges under the Vermont State Colleges System. With more than 2,400 part-time and full-time students from more than 15 countries, Castleton offers over 75 majors and minors, and 9 graduate programs across three colleges namely the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, College of Business, and College of Health and Science. As an accredited institution by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the programs are in the fields of accounting, ecological studies, exercise & sports science, health science, music education, resort & hospitality management, and wildlife and forest conservation. The university also cooperates and partners with many study abroad organizations and academic institutions like the Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Japan, John Cabot University in Italy, and Universidad Nebrija in Spain. With more than 1,000 students living on campus, Castleton has the largest residential campus in the Vermont State Colleges System.
Northern Vermont University-Johnson Campus
Northern Vermont University (NVU) – Johnson is a public two-campus liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Johnson, Vermont. It was founded in 1828 as Johnson Academy and was renamed Johnson State College in 1962. In 2018, Johnson State College officially merged with Lyndon State College to become NVU Johnson. Available to more than 1,000 part-time and full-time students, the programs in the university are offered through 4 schools namely the School of Arts and Communications, School of Business and Leadership, School of Cultural and Human Studies, and School of Physical and Life Sciences. NVU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education to award associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees through the said schools. With another campus in Lyndon, NVU Johnson is designated as Vermont’s premier public liberal arts institution by the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. The Johnson campus also offers nearly 20 100% online degree programs to provide a more flexible and affordable education to those who want to earn their degrees.
Goddard College
Founded in 1938, Goddard College is a private college headquartered in Plainfield, Vermont that is known for its low-residency experience and independent learning approach to education. The college has two more sites in Washington namely Port Townsend and Seattle. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 10 fields of study which include concentrations for both degree levels. Some of the programs are Psychology, Education, Health Arts & Sciences, Creative Writing, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Goddard is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. With more than 80% of students receiving financial aid, the college also ensures that students get the best college experience by providing Fullbright, Peace Corps, and other international opportunities, Writing Center, and Learning Center.
Advanced Welding Institute
Advanced Welding Institute (AWI) is a post-secondary welding school headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont. With a branch campus in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the school is committed to assisting individuals in developing welding skills for employment. As the 3rd best welding school in the United States, AWI offers two main programs namely 600-hour Structural Welding, and 960-hour Combination Structural and Pipe Welding which are certified by the American Welding Society and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The college and these two programs are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The school also offers 40-hour professional development courses which include Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Flux Core Arc Welding, and Gas Metal Arc Welding. Students may stay until 8 hours a day for classes and training in the on-campus welding shop where they are guided by experienced instructors.
O’Briens Aveda Institute
Established in 1964 as the Vermont College of Cosmetology, O’Briens Aveda Institute is a cosmetology school located in Williston, Vermont. The school is a result of the merging of the Aveda Institute Williston and O’Briens Training Center in 2017. Since 2015, the school has been accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences. The programs offered by the school are 1000-hour Cosmetology, 750-hour Barbering, and 600-hour Esthetics which can be finished within 6 months to 1 year with traditional classroom learning and hands-on experiences. The school also offers spa and salon services to individuals which are performed by trained students under the supervision of licensed educators. Through various events and partnerships, the O’Briens Aveda Institute gives back to the community by supporting Aveda’s Earth Month, donating to Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and BarkAID, and providing free haircuts for Wigs for Kids.
Paul Mitchell School
Paul Mitchell School is one of the top beauty schools located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school is owned and operated by the Paul Mitchell Advanced Education, LLC. The school offers 3 main programs namely 1500-hour Cosmetology, 300-hour Teacher Training, and 100-hour Advanced Makeup. The school is authorized by Tennessee Higher Education Commission to provide such programs to individuals. As a way of giving back to the community, the school regularly supports and donates to charities like the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking, Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, and Andrew Gomez Foundation. The school also offers spa and salon services to the public which are performed by Phase One and Phase Two students who are trained under the supervision of licensed educators.
Community College of Vermont
The Community College of Vermont (CCV) is a community college headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont that was founded in 1970. With more than 12 locations within the state like in Bennington, Middlebury, and Newport, it is the 2nd largest college in the state with more than 5,000 students per semester. With more than 30 options for certificate and associate degrees, CCV is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education to award associate degrees across all 12 locations. Aside from this, the college also offers 100% online options for almost all its programs which are available during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Each semester, CCV offers a study abroad opportunity to students with the option to have the tuition and expenses covered through financial aid. Students who want to pursue nursing in another institution may choose to enroll in the several courses and certificate courses offered by CCV such as Certificate in Allied Health Preparation and Associate of Science in Health Science.
Additional College Research
For additional information about MatchCollege, visit our world-class college search tools or locate the top degree programs available online. In addition, you may find it useful to start with our award-winning list of college and degree rankings for this academic year. Be your own advocate and invest the time needed today to find the best college program for you.
