by our College Data Analytics TeamMiddlebury College ranks #1 of 14 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in Vermont ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 14 colleges average a 59% six-year graduation rate and $54,813 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Vermont, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **14** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 14 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Middlebury College leads the 14 ranked colleges in Vermont, followed by University Of Vermont (#2) and Saint Michaels College (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is Middlebury College, our #1 college in Vermont. Located in Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,600. Middlebury College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,713. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Vermont earned it the #2 place in Vermont. Located in Burlington, VT, University Of Vermont is a public institution. University Of Vermont posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Median early-career earnings reach $44,588. Graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans.
Out of the 14 colleges in Vermont in this year's ranking, Saint Michaels College landed the #3 spot. Set in Colchester, VT, Saint Michaels College is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Michaels College graduates 73% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,450. Median early-career earnings reach $42,240. Graduates carry a median of $26,640 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Champlain College earned it the #4 place in Vermont. Set in Burlington, VT, Champlain College is a private not-for-profit institution. Champlain College graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $47,850. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,490. Graduates carry a median of $27,631 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Norwich University earned it the #5 place in Vermont. This private not-for-profit school is set in Northfield, VT. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. Median early-career earnings reach $59,706. Typical student debt is $24,103.
Vermont Technical College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Randolph, VT, Vermont Technical College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Vermont Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,822. The median student debt is $24,208.
Vermont Law School placed #7 among the best colleges in Vermont. This private not-for-profit school is set in South Royalton, VT. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,819.
Bennington College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Bennington College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bennington, VT. Bennington College posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,262. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $29,031. Bennington College students take on a median of $26,815 in debt.
Sit Graduate Institute placed #9 among the best colleges in Vermont. This private not-for-profit school is set in Brattleboro, VT. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,734. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,192 early in their careers.
Community College Of Vermont placed #10 among the best colleges in Vermont. Set in Montpelier, VT, Community College Of Vermont is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $34,182. Community College Of Vermont students take on a median of $12,125 in debt.
Landmark College landed the #11 spot in Vermont this year. Set in Putney, VT, Landmark College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 14%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,540. The median student debt is $23,375.
Sterling College Vermont landed the #12 spot in Vermont this year. Based in Craftsbury Common, VT, Sterling College Vermont is a private not-for-profit institution. Sterling College Vermont posts a six-year graduation rate of 32%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,760.
Obriens Aveda Institute landed the #13 spot in Vermont this year. Located in Williston, VT, Obriens Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $23,620. Students borrow a median of $9,832 to complete a degree here.
Advanced Welding Institute ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in South Burlington, VT, Advanced Welding Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,399. Students borrow a median of $5,077 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.