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Top 8 Nonprofit Online Colleges in Vermont

Many students today are trying to determine ways that they can control the costs of their college education. With tuition prices on the rise, students have begun turning to online degree programs in order to save themselves money. We’ve decide to create a ranking of our top online universities in Vermont so students can be better informed when it comes to making their enrollment decisions. This ranking has been ordered using the college’s cost per credit.

Ranking the Best Online Colleges in Vermont

#1. Northern Vermont University

A public university, Northern Vermont University was founded in 2018. Located in Johnson and Lyndon, Vermont, Northern Vermont University’s history dates back further than 2018, however. Formed out of the merger of Johnson State College and Lyndon State College, these two different colleges have a history dating all the way back to 1828. Johnson State College was originally founded in Johnson, Vermont. Named after William Samuel Johnson, the school operated as a normal school for quite some time. Providing teacher training to students, the school soon began to offer other types of degree programs to its students. In 1911, Lyndon State College was established in the city of Lyndon, Vermont. Originally known as the Lyndon Institute, the school operated as a normal school. Much like Johnson State College, Lyndon State College would slowly grow to add more academic programs, eventually resulting in a shift from operating as a normal school. In 2016, the Vermont State Colleges board voted to unify both Johnson State College and Lyndon State College into one entity. In 2018, the merger was completed and now Northern Vermont University is home to a student body of approximately 1,500 students.

Students at Northern Vermont University are able to select from a variety of different academic programs offered at the school. At this time, Northern Vermont University is offering its students dozens of different undergraduate and graduate degree programs from which to choose from. A selection of these programs is also made available to students online. By offering these degrees online, Northern Vermont University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Northern Vermont University is a public institution.

Accreditation: Northern Vermont University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Tuition: $456/credit

Click here for a list of Northern Vermont University‘s online programs.

#2. Champlain College

Located in Burlington, Vermont, Champlain College is a private college. With the motto “Let us dare”, Champlain was originally established in 1878. Known as the Burlington Business School, the college was first established by G.W. Thompson. At the time, the Burlington Business School focused on teaching young men the various skills they need to succeed in business. The school was purchased by E. George Evans in 1884 and was renamed to the Queen City Business College. Exchanging hands once again, the school was relocated and renamed to Burlington Business College in 1920. Remaining the Burlington Business College for almost the next forty years, the school was able to grow and attract more and more students. By 1958, the school was relocated to its current location in Burlington and was renamed one final time to Champlain College. It was at this point that the school began to experiment with offering college degrees. Proving quite popular, Champlain College quickly moved to expand its academic offerings in order to attract more students. Today, Champlain College enrolls a student body of approximately 2,000 students.

Champlain College has managed to expand its academic offerings over the years. Currently, students at Champlain College are able to choose from over eighty different programs across the school’s undergraduate and graduate offerings. Students are also able to enroll in a variety of these programs online through Champlain College’s Champlain College Online program. Because of Champlain College’s online degree platform, the school has placed among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Champlain College is a private institution.

Accreditation: Champlain College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $640/credit

Click here for a list of Champlain College‘s online programs.

#3. University of Vermont

Officially known as the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, the University of Vermont is a public university. Located in Burlington, Vermont, the University of Vermont’s motto is “For studies and other honest pursuits”. Established in 1791, the University of Vermont was originally established as a private university. Founded the same year that Vermont gained its statehood, the University of Vermont began enrolling its first class of students in 1801. Decades later, the University of Vermont merged with the nearby Vermont Agricultural College. It was through this merger that the school got its official name of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. The University of Vermont was the home of many educational firsts in the United States. Known for instituting charters that explicitly forbid the special treatment of individuals based upon their religious background as well as admitting women into programs in 1871, the University of Vermont has maintained a reputation of being at the forefront of modern educational trends.  Today, the University of Vermont is now one of the oldest public universities in the United States and is home to over 12,000 students.

Home of the Catamounts, the University of Vermont has amassed a large catalog of academic programs from which students can choose to study. Currently, students at the University of Vermont can choose from over 100 different undergraduate degrees, over fifty master’s programs, and twenty-five doctoral degrees. Of these programs, over forty of them are made available to students entirely online. Through this online offering, University of Vermont has placed among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. University of Vermont is a public institution.

Accreditation: University of Vermont is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $646/credit

Click here for a list of University of Vermont‘s online programs.

#4. Goddard College

With its original location in Plainfield, Vermont, Goddard College is a private, low-residency college. Operating three different campuses, Goddard College was first established in 1863. Originally located in Barre, Vermont, Goddard College’s history began as the Green Mountain Central Institute. Focusing primarily on the education of young people, the school was renamed in 1870 to Goddard Seminary. This name was chosen to honor Thomas and Mary Goddard. Thomas Goddard had provided the Green Mountain Central Institute with a very generous donation which led to the school being renamed in his honor. Founded by Christian Universalists, Goddard Seminary focused on providing students with a Christian education. Over time, the style of education shifted at Goddard Seminary and the school began to expand its focus on manners outside of Bible education. By 1938, the school was renamed to Goddard College to better reflect the variety of different academic experiences available to students at the school.  Today, Goddard College has expanded its student body to enroll over 700 students across its three campuses.

Students at Goddard College are able to select from a large catalog of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, Goddard College offers students nearly two-dozen different undergraduate and graduate degree programs to choose from. A selection of these programs is also offered to students online or partially online. Goddard College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Goddard College is a private institution.

Accreditation: Goddard College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $691/credit

Click here for a list of Goddard College‘s online programs.

#5. Norwich University

Located in Northfield, Vermont, Norwich University is a private university with the motto “I Will Try”. Originally founded in 1819, Norwich University was initially known as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. Also originally located in Norwich, Vermont, the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy was founded by Captian Alden Partridge. A former superintendent of the famed West Point Academy, Captain Alden Partridge hoped to create his own institution of higher learning that followed the American System of Education. The American System of Education primarily focused on liberal arts, civil engineering, and military science. His work at the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy helped to inspire many other leading military colleges and universities throughout the United States. In 1834, the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy was renamed to Norwich University. Renamed again to Lewis College in 1880 and then the Military College of the State of Vermont in 1898, the school was eventually renamed back to Norwich University. One of the oldest military colleges in the United States, Norwich University helped set the bar for what a military academy was to offer. Today, Norwich University enrolls almost 3,500 students.

Students at Norwich University can choose from a wide variety of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, Norwich University is offering students over fifty different degree programs across the school’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Of these programs, over twenty of them are available to students to enroll at entirely online.  By offering these programs to students entirely online, Norwich University has placed among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Norwich University is a private institution.

Accreditation: Norwich University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Tuition: $750/credit

Click here for a list of Norwich University‘s online programs.

#6. Southern Vermont College

Located in Bennington, Vermont, Southern Vermont College is a private college. Established in 1926, Southern Vermont College was originally established as the St. Joseph Business School. At the time, the St. Joseph Business School specialized in providing students with training in topics such as finance, shorthand, typewriting, secretarial accounting, and more. Over the course of the coming years, St. Joseph Business School began to adapt its curriculum to offer students junior college-level degree programs. In 1962, the school received its accreditation from the State of Vermont designating the school as a junior college. Southern Vermont College then relocated to its current location in Bennington, Vermont in 1974. By moving to this new location, Southern Vermont College had given itself the room to grow into a larger institution and attract more students. This move also allowed Southern Vermont College the ability to grow its curriculum and add additional degrees to its course offerings. Adding more to the curriculum, Southern Vermont College has been able to expand to become one of the top colleges in Vermont.

Enrolling over 400 students, Southern Vermont College has amassed a large catalog of academic programs for students to select from. At the time of this writing, students at Southern Vermont College can choose from dozens of different undergraduate degree programs. Southern Vermont College offers a selection of these degrees to students entirely online, including an RN-to-BSN program. Because of this dedication to online learning, Southern Vermont College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Southern Vermont College is a private institution.

Accreditation: Southern Vermont College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Tuition: $1,051/credit

Click here for a list of Southern Vermont College‘s online programs.

#7. Castleton University

Established in 1787, Castleton University is a public college located in Castleton, Vermont. Originally operated as the Rutland County Grammar School, Castleton University initially served as a school for young men to gain a primary education. Over the coming years, the Rutland County Grammar School would undergo several name changes. Known as the Castleton Academy, Castleton Academy and Female Seminary, Vermont Classical High School, and Castleton Seminary, it wasn’t until 1867 that ambitions of higher education began to materialize. In 1867, the Castleton Seminary was transformed into the State Normal School at Castleton. With this change came a shift towards providing students with teacher training that went beyond the typical education found at a primary school. In time, the school was renamed to Castleton Teachers College and was then offering students bachelor’s degrees in education. With that came the addition of other degree programs for the student body. In 2015, the school was finally renamed to Castleton University. Today, the school is home to a student body of nearly 2,200 students.

Home of the Spartans, students at Castleton University can select from a large catalog of academic programs offered by the school. At the time of this writing, Castleton University is offering students over thirty undergraduate degree programs as well as a few graduate programs. A selection of these degree programs is also made available to students entirely online, allowing the school to earn its ranking among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Castleton University is a public institution.

Accreditation: Castleton University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Tuition: $1,133/credit

Click here for a list of Castleton University‘s online programs.

#8. Green Mountain College

With the motto “Let There Be Light”, Green Mountain College is a private college. Established in 1834, Green Mountain College is located in Poultney, Vermont. Originally known as the Troy Conference Academy, Green Mountain College was a coeducational school operated by the United Methodist Church. In 1863, the Troy Conference Academy became the Ripley Female College and began to only offer courses to female students. Eleven years later, the Ripley Female College’s name was changed back to Troy Conference Academy but it still remained a school for women. Over the course of the coming decades, the Troy Conference Academy began to expand its academic offerings to include college courses. By 1937, it was decided that the Troy Conference Academy was to be renamed to Green Mountain Junior College to reflect the school’s newfound junior college status. After adding the junior college programs, Green Mountain Junior College worked to expand its academic offerings even further. With this expansion came the addition of four-year bachelor’s degrees in 1974. Today, Green Mountain College is home to over 700 students known as the Eagles.

Students at Green Mountain College are afforded the opportunity to select from the school’s many different academic programs. At this time, Green Mountain College is offering students over twenty undergraduate programs to select from as well as a selection of master’s programs. Of these programs, Green Mountain College has chosen a selection of them to be made available to students online. By committing to online learning, Green Mountain College has placed among our top online universities and colleges in Vermont. Green Mountain College is a private institution.

Accreditation: Green Mountain College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $1,185/credit

Click here for a list of Green Mountain College‘s online programs.

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This ranking has listed the best nonprofit online colleges in Vermont.