Top-Tier New England Liberal Arts Education at Marlboro
Mount Holyoke College appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.
Ranked 116th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, Marlboro College is a small nonprofit, forward-thinking CIC member in Southern Vermont that individualizes 31 bachelor’s and three master’s degrees with a 4:1 student-teacher ratio to reach 74 percent retention. For example, the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies grows a 120-credit, four-year curriculum where undergrads can travel to Yellowstone National Park, engage in the Outdoor Program, research at the Organic Farm, and volunteer at The Kitchen. Chaired by Dr. Matt Ollis, the 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics helps students take courses like Calculus, add a Data Humanist Certificate, intern at Baystate Financial, study away in Germany, join Gaming Club, and attend the Expedition Education Institute.
Online on Moodle, the Graduate School runs a 36-credit, low-residency Master of Science in Management for post-bachelor’s students to take courses like Economic Development, attend monthly Marlboro weekend retreats, join Center for New Leadership projects, and present capstone portfolios. Coordinated by Dr. Moxie Mehegan, the Master of Arts in Teaching for Social Justice builds a 36-credit, 12-month hybrid sequence with Friday/Saturday intensives at the Spark Teacher Institute for five K-12 endorsements: Elementary, Math, English, Science, or Social Studies Education. Additional opportunities include the Bachelor of Arts in Classics, Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Arts in Painting, Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Physics, and Master of Business Administration.
Featured Programs
About Marlboro College
Marlboro College originated in 1946 when Walter Hendricks financed a four-year bachelor’s institution for World War II veterans on Potash Hill with Servicemen’s Readjustment Act funds. In 1950, National Academy of Sciences fellow Robert MacArthur graduated with its inaugural class. Within the decade, Marlboro had acquired three old farms to create its rural Windham County campus. During the 1970s, Marlboro added the Clear Writing Requirement and started holding weekly Town Meetings. In 1997, Marlboro College launched the Graduate School for master’s study. In 2008, Marlboro received LEED certification for its eco-friendly Dalrymple Classroom Building. In 2012, Marlboro notably launched its Beautiful Minds Challenge for intellectual scholarships. In Spring 2016, Marlboro College invested $3.5 million to renovate the Snyder Visual Arts Center.
Endowed for $37.6 million, Marlboro College now employs 41 full-time faculty teaching 198 students from 35 states and six countries on its 360-acre Green Mountains campus near Brattleboro with 20+ clubs like the Environmental Quality Committee. In 2018, Marlboro accepted a Governor’s Education Award from the Vermont Arts Council. One decade earlier, Marlboro College had the NASPA Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence recipient. Loren Pope chose Marlboro for his Colleges That Change Lives in 2013 too. Forbes named Marlboro the 361st top private institution and 181st best liberal arts school. On Niche, Marlboro boasts America’s 78th best fine arts programs. The Princeton Review positioned Marlboro College 20th for vegetarians and 11th for quality professors. Kiplinger’s declared Marlboro the 95th top private value. PayScale ranked Marlboro 268th with a $100,500 mid-career salary.
Marlboro College Accreditation Details
On March 18, 2015, Marlboro College announced that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) voted favorably to continue the Level III accreditation through 2024-25 under the ninth president, Dr. Kevin F.F. Quigley, who designed the NPCA Harris Wofford Global Citizen Award. Located 110 miles east via Highway 12 in Burlington, Massachusetts, this splendid six-state Northeast Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Vermont Higher Education Council (VHEC).
Marlboro College Application Requirements
Enrollment at Marlboro College is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s although 116 of the 120 Fall 2018 applicants were selected for high 97 percent acceptance odds. Admitted freshmen are creative, self-motivated high school graduates dedicated to social justice activism. Most complete 18 or more college-prep academic courses during grades 9-12. On average, students have a 3.23 secondary GPA for the four-point scale. The Class of 2022 had mid-range SAT composite scores of 1260 to 1360. The middle 50th percentile presented ACT scores of 24 to 30. Starting in 2019, submitting test results will be wholly optional though. One exception is for international students who need a minimum 550 TOEFL pBT score or equivalent. Nearly 25 percent of Marlboro undergrads transfer non-remedial college credits graded C- or better. Associate articulation agreements exist with Greenfield Community College and the Community College of Vermont.
Marlboro College set first-year deadlines of November 15th for Early Decision, January 15th for Early Action, and February 1st for Regular Decision. Incoming transfers must file before March 15th for Fall or November 1st for Spring entry. The Graduate School has rolling admission with respective priority dates of April 5th and December 5th. Accordingly, prospective students complete the Marlboro or Common Application online for $0. Official transcripts are forwarded to 2582 South Road in Marlboro, VT 05344. Optional standardized testing reports are sent via SAT code 3509 or ACT code 4304. Additional documents, such as the two short essay responses, two recommendations, current resume, art/music portfolio, endorsement form, and teaching certificate, are attached. Contact (802) 257-4333 or admissions@marlboro.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Marlboro College is billing full-time undergraduates $13,250 by semester or $26,500 annually. Tuition was reduced by 33 percent from $39,870 the previous year. Bachelor’s majors cover the $210 activities fee and $775 health services fee. Living at the Windham County campus’ dorms like Hilton House adds $7,285 for yearly housing. Standard weekly 19-meal plans for Metz Dining Hall are $5,310 extra per year. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $40,080 on-site and $27,485 if commuting. The Master of Science in Management bills $794 per credit for $28,584 total. Hybrid MBA cohorts spend $794 per credit or $35,730. The Graduate School charges MAT for Social Justice majors $28,584 overall.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid on Mather Hall’s 1st Floor links 91 percent of full-time Marlboro students to median tuition assistance of $31,173 apiece for $5.23 million combined. Institutional funds include the Trustee’s Merit Scholarship, Potash Hill Award, George Alden Scholarship, Renaissance Scholarship, Robert Sheldon Stainton Scholarship, Christopher Boeth Scholarship, Windham Community Scholarship, Lillian Farber Scholarship, Thomas Thompson Scholarship, Warren Sisson Scholarship, Jean Crosby Markham Scholarship, Wolf Kahn Scholarship, and Agnes Lindsay Scholarship. The Hendrick’s Award gifts $2,000 annually to honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Phi Theta Kappa members with minimum 3.0 GPAs can receive the $2,500 Transfer Grant. Federal programs, such as the Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grant and Stafford Loan, need FAFSA forms coded 003690 by April 1st. Vermonters can also claim the Incentive Grant, Alannas Scholarship, Edgar May Scholarship, Upper Valley Scholarship, Good Citizenship Scholarship, and more.
Explore four accredited academic divisions that grant 34 premier liberal arts programs placed 82nd overall by Washington Monthly at the Marlboro College website.