The cost of college in Vermont — and what it pays back
Across the 9 Vermont institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $25,239/yr, $8,337 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $58,386 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 6 of the 9 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Vermont's 9 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury College | $31,483 | $76,310 | 4.5 yrs |
| Norwich University | $22,257 | $65,575 | 5.2 yrs |
| University of Vermont | $19,343 | $62,472 | 5.5 yrs |
| Saint Michael's College | $25,239 | $61,317 | 7.8 yrs |
| Champlain College | $35,860 | $58,386 | 14.3 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Vermont | $13,696 | $36,234 | no payback |
| Vermont State University | $18,212 | $50,331 | 37 yrs |
| University of Vermont | $19,343 | $62,472 | 5.5 yrs |
| Norwich University | $22,257 | $65,575 | 5.2 yrs |
| Saint Michael's College | $25,239 | $61,317 | 7.8 yrs |
How many Vermont colleges actually pay for themselves?
6 of 9 — 67% of the Vermont institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Vermont graduates out-earn the national median?
Vermont graduates report a median $58,386 ten years after entry, $14,838 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.