University of Vermont

Gaining admission to the University of Vermont is relatively accessible compared to many national universities, though the school faces stiff competition when converting offers into enrolled students. In the 2027 US News National University Rankings, the university placed 133rd, reflecting a gradual decline from its position at 97th back in 2018. Admissions data for 2025 shows an acceptance rate of 65.3%, which is higher than 23% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Meanwhile, the university posted an enrollment yield rate of 15.8%, which is also higher than 23% of peer schools. This relatively low yield suggests that admitted students frequently weigh their acceptances against multiple alternative offers before making a final commitment. For applicants, this combination of a moderate acceptance rate and a low yield rate means that qualified candidates stand a realistic chance of admission, while the university actively works to attract admitted students to its Burlington campus.

Applicants targeting the University of Vermont should prepare for competitive academic standards, particularly when presenting standardized test scores alongside strong high school records. For the class entering in 2025, the university reported a median SAT score of 1360, which was higher than all peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. While test submission has become less widespread across the applicant pool, students submitting testing credentials continue to demonstrate solid preparation in both reading and mathematics. For international candidates evaluating their competitiveness, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway reveal an admitted median unweighted GPA of 3.65 and a median SAT score of 1290. These academic markers suggest that successful applicants typically present above-average course performance and balanced testing results to align well with the university's academic expectations.

Undergraduate degrees at the University of Vermont are moderately distributed across broad liberal arts, environmental, and business fields, while its top national rankings concentrate in graduate health disciplines. In 2025, the top three bachelor's programs—Business Administration and Management, Psychology, and Environmental Studies—represented 20.4% of all bachelor's graduates, showing that degrees are not overly concentrated in just a few areas. These popular undergraduate majors do not mirror the university's highest ranked fields; on the 2026 US News list, the medical school tied for 2nd nationally in both research and primary care. Strong financial returns appear in technical degrees: median earnings data from 2023 shows electrical engineering bachelor's graduates earning $86,753 one year after graduation.

The student population at the University of Vermont is predominantly composed of domestic undergraduates, with female students holding a solid majority across all academic levels. The undergraduate student body is largely White, while domestic racial minorities and overseas students form relatively small fractions of incoming and continuing classes. Greater demographic representation is evident within the university's advanced degree divisions. Among graduate students in 2025, international scholars numbered 258, accounting for 11.7% of the total cohort, while Asian students numbered 159, representing 7.2% of the group. For prospective students, these enrollment figures illustrate an institution where undergraduate campus life is anchored primarily by domestic students, while graduate degree programs bring together a comparatively more international and diverse academic community.

Undergraduate life at the University of Vermont is dominated by traditional college-age students living and studying together. In 2025, among 12,276 undergraduates, 44% were aged 20 to 21 and 43.6% were aged 18 to 19, leaving only a minor share of older learners. This creates a residential campus environment shaped almost entirely by young adults. The 2,200 graduate students bring an older dynamic to advanced programs, with 39.3% falling in the 25-to-29 age bracket.

International enrollment trends at the University of Vermont have diverged between undergraduate and graduate divisions over the past decade. Undergraduate international enrollment has experienced a prolonged contraction, dropping to 1.6% in 2025, a proportion that is higher than 23% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Conversely, international presence in post-baccalaureate programs has expanded steadily, reaching 11.7% of the graduate student body in 2025. This divide carries into graduation outcomes. In 2025, international students comprised just 0.9% of bachelor's degree recipients, where they clustered primarily in fields like business administration and computer science. At the advanced level, international representation proved much more pronounced, with master's and doctoral graduates concentrating in programs such as counselor education, business administration, and biomedical sciences. For prospective international applicants, the university represents a predominantly domestic undergraduate setting paired with increasingly globalized graduate and research environments.

Applicants exploring the University of Vermont can consider several established higher education institutions across northern New England and upstate New York. Located approximately 32 kilometers to the south, Middlebury College is a renowned liberal arts college ranked 19th among national liberal arts colleges in the 2027 rankings. Roughly 70 kilometers away across the New Hampshire border lies Dartmouth College, an Ivy League institution placed 12th among national universities. To the west in New York State, Clarkson University is a national university positioned 89.6 kilometers away and ranked 137th. In the same region, St Lawrence University offers another private liberal arts setting about 97 kilometers from Burlington, holding the 49th spot among liberal arts colleges. These nearby campuses provide families with accessible alternative options varying from small liberal arts environments to research-focused national universities.

Campus safety metrics at the University of Vermont indicate a generally controlled environment where disciplinary infractions represent the primary enforcement activity. By 2025, the university's crime rate per 1,000 students decreased to 9.7, reflecting a steady decline across the past decade. Between 2023 and 2025, official logs show that campus safety reports were heavily concentrated in administrative conduct violations rather than violent crime. Specifically, alcohol-related disciplinary referrals totaled 1,021 incidents, while drug-related disciplinary referrals reached 435 incidents across those three years. More severe offenses occurred with far less frequency during this period, with local records noting limited occurrences of stalking, rape, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. For prospective students and families assessing daily life in Burlington, these figures demonstrate that campus safety concerns primarily revolve around substance-related policy enforcement rather than pervasive violent crime.