Best Colleges in Vermont – 2024

Academic Highlights: Middlebury offers over 50 majors and the school’s 9:1 student-faculty ratio allows 100% of courses to be taught by professors, not graduate assistants. Most classes are small; the mean class size is 16, and 15% of sections contain fewer than 10 students. The Summer Research at Middlebury program funds 130 students annually to work alongside faculty in a variety of disciplines. Each year, more than 50% of juniors take a semester abroad in one of 75 programs in 40 countries. The college’s robust international program includes Middlebury Schools Abroad in Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 74% of the Class of 2023 had landed jobs and 14% were in graduate school. Google and Meta are now two of the leading employers of alumni alongside Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Amazon, and JP Morgan. More than 100 alumni work in the US State Department and more than two dozen presently work for Apple, Microsoft, McKinsey, and Credit Suisse. New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, and San Francisco claim the greatest numbers of Panther alumni.

Academic Highlights: Bennington College revolutionizes liberal arts education by empowering students to completely design their own academic journey, transcending traditional majors through close faculty collaboration. With an enviable 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 71% of classes under 20 students, this highly personalized approach creates a dynamic classroom. The signature Field Work Term ensures every student gains real-world experience, spending seven intensive winter weeks every year pursuing internships, research, or entrepreneurial ventures that directly inform their evolving academic path.

Professional Outcomes: Bennington’s radical approach yields extraordinary results: 100% of graduates complete at least four professional experiences before graduation, and 100% secure employment within 2-5 years, with 84% working in fields directly connected to their Bennington studies. The program’s emphasis on self-directed learning produces both successful entrepreneurs and sought-after professionals, with alumni making an impact everywhere from Apple and the Met to Columbia University. With an average early-career salary of $61,000—remarkable for arts-heavy curricula—Bennington proves that educational innovation translates to career success in the creative economy.

Academic Highlights: The University of Vermont offers nearly 100 undergraduate majors and 90 advanced degree programs, ensuring students can pursue virtually any academic interest. With 37% of classes enrolling fewer than 20 students and 63% under 30, UVM prioritizes an intimate learning environment—only 18% of courses take place in large lecture halls. Hands-on learning is a hallmark: 40% of undergraduates participate in faculty-mentored research, many presenting at the annual Student Research Conference. Global engagement is equally robust, with hundreds of students studying abroad through UVM’s direct partnerships with 20 international institutions.

Professional Outcomes: UVM graduates thrive post-commencement, with 93% achieving career or graduate school success within six months. Nearly half enter the workforce immediately, earning an average starting salary of $54,892, and securing roles at top employers like UVM Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess, and the State of Vermont. Meanwhile, 23% continue their education, enrolling at prestigious institutions such as Boston University, NYU, and Northeastern, or furthering their studies at UVM itself.

Academic Highlights: Saint Michael’s College transforms students through its innovative Purposeful Learning program, providing four years of individualized mentorship that bridges classroom learning with personal growth. With 40+ majors, a remarkable 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and average classes of 16, the college fosters deep intellectual engagement. Students from 21 states and 15 countries enhance their education through 100+ study abroad programs, while 31% of seniors conduct faculty-mentored research, creating graduates who connect knowledge with real-world purpose.

Professional Outcomes: Saint Michael’s graduates achieve strong career outcomes, with 83% employed at organizations like Boston Children’s Hospital and PwC, and 16% pursuing advanced degrees at institutions including Notre Dame and Emory. Alumni predominantly build their careers in the knowledge hubs of Greater Boston and Burlington, demonstrating how the college’s unique combination of personalized mentorship, undergraduate research, and global perspectives prepares graduates to excel in competitive professional environments while maintaining meaningful community connections.

Academic Highlights: Sterling College pioneers an immersive environmental education where classroom learning and hands-on fieldwork share equal focus. Students transform local farms, forests, and waterways into living laboratories, developing sustainable practices through direct experience. With an exceptional 9:1 student-teacher ratio, all undergraduates earn an environmental studies degree within an intimate learning community. This distinctive approach culminates in a Senior Year Research Project that synthesizes academic knowledge with practical ecological solutions.

Professional Outcomes: Sterling graduates achieve meaningful career outcomes, with 75% employed within one year, and three-quarters in their chosen environmental fields. Alumni make impacts at organizations ranging from Boeing to Vermont state agencies, applying their sustainability expertise in diverse sectors. While many build careers in Vermont’s vibrant environmental community, others contribute to ecological initiatives in Kansas, demonstrating how Sterling’s unique blend of academic rigor and applied learning prepares graduates to address pressing environmental challenges wherever they choose to work.