University of Vermont College Portrait
University of VermontBurlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-3370
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont (UVM) is one of the nation’s premier small research universities, recognized for outstanding undergraduate education across all disciplines as well as leading graduate and research programs in the biological sciences and several other fields. A hallmark of a UVM education is combining learning with service to build skills and knowledge aimed at improving lives and the health of our planet. The university is located in Burlington, Vermont, a vibrant small city surrounded by inspiring natural beauty. Students thrive in and out of the classroom and are successful in gaining entrance to top graduate programs and at launching rewarding careers. A UVM education has enduring value.
Living in the UVM Community
With students from across the United States and many countries around the world – 65 percent of our enrollment comes from outside Vermont – the University of Vermont is unique among public universities. Our community of just over 10,000 undergraduate degree students and 2,000 graduate and medical students embraces diverse perspectives and wide-ranging intellectual and social interests. A key element of the university’s philosophy is to encourage and facilitate student success, with support ranging from faculty advising (every undergraduate student has an advisor) to specialized student services promoting the academic success and overall wellbeing of each student. With more than 100 student clubs, 18 Division I sports, a wealth of arts and entertainment opportunities on campus and throughout Burlington, and some of the country’s best hiking and ski trails in our backyard, UVM students never lack for fun and healthy engagement.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 13,478 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 11,482 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 6,453 | 56% |
| Men | 5,029 | 44% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 31 | <1% |
| Asian | 260 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 163 | 1% |
| Hispanic | 422 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 7 | <1% |
| White | 9,745 | 85% |
| Two or More Races | 272 | 2% |
| International | 197 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 385 | 3% |
| Where do UVM undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Vermont | 33% |
| Other US States & Territories | 65% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| How old are UVM undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 20 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 3% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 24 - 29 | |
| Math | 550 - 640 | |
| Critical Reading | 540 - 640 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 68% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 96% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 42% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $26,358.00
The cost to attend University of Vermont varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 59% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $14,506.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 47% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,502.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UVM Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 71% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 87% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 594 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 46% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 16% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 87% |
Campus-based Housing
97% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
50% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
Campus safety is supported by UVM Police Services in partnership with the campus community, and local, county, state and federal police agencies. Services include education on personal safety and the prevention of crime, as well as law enforcement. A blue light emergency call-box system, 24-hour locked residence halls, and shuttles both on and off campus also contribute to the safety of our students.
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, highly residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences plus professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, STEM dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at UVM
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 93% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 54% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 34% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 87% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 22% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 65% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 64% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 27% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 66% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 62% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 92% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 52% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 84% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 96% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 74% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 85% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 45% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 74% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 85% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Vermont in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,422 |
| Master's | 390 |
| Doctoral | 208 |
| Total | 3,020 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 9% |
| Psychology, General | 7% |
| Political Science and Government, General | 6% |
| English Language and Literature, General | 6% |
| Environmental Studies | 4% |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 94% four-year success and progress rate means that 94% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,366 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 361 Full-Time Transfer Students
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 85%
Student Learning at University of Vermont
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
In addition to the evaluation of student learning in individual courses, assessment of formal learning outcomes at UVM is conducted primarily at the level of the undergraduate major where the establishment of learning goals has become widespread across campus. Assessment methods vary and include the evaluation of student work in capstone or other advanced courses, in portfolios, performance on standardized exams, and analysis of survey data collected from graduating seniors and alumni. Most programs use multiple methods of assessment and have used these data to strengthen course content, modify course and degree requirements, develop new courses and programs, and improve teaching.
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
This university is in the process of collecting and analyzing learning outcomes test results.