University of Vermont

Key Takeaways:

• The University of Vermont (UVM) offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs with a focus on sustainability and research.
• UVM provides students with a vibrant campus life, including numerous clubs, activities, and a commitment to community engagement and service.
• Located in Burlington, Vermont, UVM features a picturesque campus and offers unique opportunities for students to explore the natural environment.

Degree Programs at the University of Vermont

The University of Vermont appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.

The University of Vermont offers more than 100 degree programs for undergrads and nearly as many choices in minors. Those majors range from animal science to zoology. While the animal science program looks at how animals live and the breeding of animals, the zoology program focuses on the care of wild animals in different habitats. The university’s business administration program is popular because of the available concentrations, including:

• accounting
• marketing
• business analytics

Other majors designed by the university for undergrads include:

• mechanical engineering
• classical civilizations
• plant biology
• political science
• art therapy
• environmental studies
• social work

The University of Vermont is one of the only colleges in Vermont with a graduate program in historic preservation. This Master of Science program has approval from the National Council for Preservation Education. Students learn how to restore and rehab buildings based on their classroom experiences. They also have a choice between doing an internship or a thesis.

Clinical psychology majors can earn a doctoral or a graduate degree from the university. Both programs include internships that help students complete the clinical hours of work needed to get a license in Vermont or another state. The university also offers standard and online graduate degree programs in:

• business administration
• natural resources
• nursing
• special education
• middle grades education
• social work
• food studies, among others

Nearly 40 accelerated degree programs are also available from the University of Vermont for students who have some advanced knowledge of various topics. The law program is a partnership program between the university and the Vermont Law School. It features three years of classes at the university and another two years at the law school. Students earn both a Juris Doctorate and a bachelor’s degree.

In the elementary education and other education program, students who have a bachelor’s degree in education or teaching can complete their studies in 18 months or less. In addition to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the university also offers an MSN for accelerated students with a concentration in clinical nurse leaders. All of the university’s accelerated programs take less than two years to finish.

About the University of Vermont

The University of Vermont is one of the nicknames given to the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. It is a public university established in 1791, which makes it one of the nation’s oldest colleges. Though founded when Vermont became a state, it took a full decade before the university opened its doors to just 10 students. After merging with the Vermont Agricultural College in 1865 to form a new university, enrollment quickly grew. Part of the popularity of the university was due to its charter, which kept the school separate from religious organizations and allowed students to enroll regardless of their religious beliefs.

Also known as UVM, the university now consists of a graduate college and seven different colleges for undergrads. It also has an Honors College that allows students to pick a major and enroll in advanced/honors classes while still earning a degree from the university. US News and World Report ranked UVM as the nation’s 121st best university for 2020. It also ranked at number 130 on the Washington Monthly list and number 168 on the Forbes list. With an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, it is the largest university in Vermont.

University of Vermont Accreditation Details

UVM has accreditation for its programs in:

• dental hygiene
• dietetics
• physical therapy
• technology
• psychology
• education programs, among others.

The institutional accreditation that the university holds is a type of regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Any student in need of financial aid can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because of that accreditation, which is also why they can transfer credits to UVM if they attended another college in the past.

University of Vermont Application Requirements

With an acceptance rate of nearly 70 percent, UVM admits hundreds of new students each year. Undergrads have until the first of November to apply by the university’s early action deadline. They will get a response by the middle of December. Students who apply by the standard deadline of January 15 get a response around the first of February. UVM gives students until May first to submit their decision letters. Their online accounts let prospective students view the admissions requirements and view the decision made by the university. They can use their accounts to pay the application fee and submit an application as well as provide information on their test scores and grades.

Graduate students can also apply online. UVM recommends that they submit their applications at least three months before the semester starts. Many programs have a final application deadline of April first. Some of the requirements that students may need to meet include having a bachelor’s degree and a grade point average of 2.7 to 3.0 or higher. Most programs ask for a resume and a personal statement or writing sample. Some also ask for letters of reference or recommendation and an interview too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

At UVM, undergrads pay $683 per credit hour if they take fewer than 12 credits and are a Vermont resident. This is the same rate they pay for each credit hour taken above the 18-hour limit. Residents who enroll as full-time students will pay $8,196 per semester. Nonresidents pay $1,720 per credit hour or $20,640 per semester. Undergrads also pay a comprehensive fee of $1,205 each semester and an average of $6,473 per semester for room and board. Graduate students pay $683 per credit hour as a Vermont resident and $1,720 per credit hour as a nonresident.

UVM offers financial aid packages but requires that students submit the FAFSA before it will award them aid. Work-study programs are open to students who show more need and allows them to work for the university in different roles each semester. Similar positions are available for grad students too. UVM can award students institutional grants or scholarships and help them qualify for the loan and grant programs offered by the federal government as well as the state government. All students receive an award letter from the University of Vermont that details their financial aid before they start one of the degree programs.