Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Vermont
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Vermont5 schools
5 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Vermont.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Vermont
- Pays back in about 4.5 years
- Earnings $76,310 ten years out
- 2
Norwich University
Northfield, VT · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.2 years
- Earnings $65,575 ten years out
- 3
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Pays back in about 5.5 years
- Earnings $62,472 ten years out
- 4
Saint Michael's College
Colchester, VT · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Pays back in about 7.8 years
- Earnings $61,317 ten years out
- 5
Champlain College
Burlington, VT · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Pays back in about 14.3 years
- Earnings $58,386 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury College | $31,483 | $13,857 | $76,310 | 91% |
| Norwich University | $22,257 | $25,000 | $65,575 | 60% |
| University of Vermont | $19,343 | $20,951 | $62,472 | 79% |
| Saint Michael's College | $25,239 | $26,922 | $61,317 | 73% |
| Champlain College | $35,860 | $26,814 | $58,386 | 65% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13