Fast Facts

Vermont’s independent colleges and universities have a positive impact on Vermont communities and the state.

The independent colleges:

• Enroll nearly 19,000 students or 42% of all students enrolled in Vermont

 

• Confer 53% of the degrees awarded in Vermont each year

 

• 55% of our bachelor degree-seeking students graduate within four years compared to 39% at public institutions

 

• Offer associate degrees and certificate programs to retrain Vermont’s workforce

 

• Make access possible to baccalaureate degree programs throughout Vermont

 

• Enroll large numbers of Vermont students, as do the public colleges, but independent college students have more opportunities to learn with students from all parts of the country

 

• Provide 70% of Vermont’s teacher preparation programs

 

• Students at independent colleges annually contribute approximately 895,400 hours of volunteer time worth over $42 million. An estimated 88% of that time is with K-12 organizations

 

• Offer many educational, recreational, cultural opportunities free or at minimal cost to their communities