What a friend would tell you
What UVM is looking for
Early Decision yield matters here, and applying ED signals serious interest. UVM wants students who connect their application to Burlington specifically: the food systems program, the Gund Institute for Environment, or clinical rotations at UVM Medical Center. A generic love of nature won't cut it.
What students wish they'd known
Burlington winters are long, dark, and cold (below zero is normal in January). Out-of-state tuition is steep for a public university with a 66% acceptance rate. The progressive culture is homogeneous enough that moderate or conservative students may feel like outsiders. The 67% four-year graduation rate suggests advising and course access aren't always smooth.
UVM might be a fit if...
- You want to ski 20+ days a season and still make it to Friday lectures
- You're drawn to environmental science, sustainable agriculture, or public health in a state that takes those fields seriously
- You want a mid-size public school that feels like a college town, not a sprawling flagship
UVM Admissions Strategy
1.1x
Early Decision Advantage
Early Decision admits at 1.1x the RD rate. The trade: ED is binding. Apply only if you'd say yes on the spot.
Early Decision: the numbers
UVM's Early Decision acceptance rate is 72.6% vs 65.3% RD. ED is binding. If you are admitted, you are committing to enroll. This signals strong commitment and gives a meaningful admissions advantage.
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 15
Deadlines: ED November 1 · RD January 15
Test Policy
Test-optional
You choose whether to send scores. A strong score helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Not Tracked
Not tracked. Skip the info-session circuit and put those hours into the application itself.
Interview
Optional
Yield Rate
35%
Only 35% of admits choose to enroll. The waitlist moves more than you'd think; if you land on it, make your interest loud.
Want the strongest possible application to UVM, plus better odds and merit offers everywhere else you apply?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at UVM
$54,000
Sticker Price
$19,500
In-State Tuition
$10,000
Avg Merit Aid
Need-aware admissions. Meets 100% of demonstrated need. 88% receive financial aid.
For context: UVM spends about $13,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, right around the $15K national average.
What UVM Graduates Get
$45,000
Avg Starting Salary
92%
Employed or in Grad School
67%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (78%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
UVM Campus & Culture
The Campus
UVM's 460-acre campus climbs a hillside overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, with the Green Mountains rising to the east. The historic University Row features Federal and Greek Revival brick buildings dating to the 1820s. Ira Allen Chapel and the Billings Student Center anchor the main green, while the STEM Complex (opened 2019) adds modern glass and steel on the east side.
The Social Scene
Outdoor-focused, vibrant Burlington restaurant/bar scene, ski access nearby
UVM Traditions & Trivia
Naked Bike Ride
Since 1996, on the last day of classes each spring, thousands of students line the Central Campus loop to watch peers bike through campus, a tradition the student paper covers with the gravity of a commencement address.
Academics at UVM
What UVM is known for
Environmental programs, liberal culture, outdoor recreation
Most popular majors at UVM
Standout programs
Environmental science, engineering, agriculture, business
How the curriculum works
Core curriculum with flexibility across 7 colleges
Recommended high school courses
4 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language
Notable UVM Alumni
John Dewey
Philosopher who reshaped American education theory, class of 1879
Jody Williams
Won the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign to ban landmines, UVM class of 1972
Jon Fishman
Drummer of Phish, formed the band while at UVM
If you like UVM, also consider
University of New Hampshire
Similar New England public school, closer to Boston, less expensive
Middlebury College
Vermont's elite liberal arts option with stronger academics and smaller classes
University of Colorado Boulder
Same outdoor culture, bigger school, warmer winters
Colby College
Small Maine liberal arts with comparable outdoor access and progressive values
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Larger flagship with similar college-town energy and stronger research