
Burlington, VTprivate nonprofitchamplain.edu
Admit rate has ranged 56%–85% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Champlain College is a career-focused liberal arts school in Burlington, Vermont, where students stack practical skills with 30 flexible credits per major—whether that means adding a game design stint in Kyoto or doubling down on cybersecurity. With an 83% acceptance rate and a scrappy, inclusive vibe, it attracts hands-on learners who thrive in its 'upside-down curriculum' (career courses from day one) and leave with strong job prospects: 86% of grads land career-relevant roles within six months.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Champlain College is somewhat selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 55.77% to 88% across sources (most cluster around 83%). The middle 50% of admitted students have SAT scores between 1170–1380 or ACT scores of 26–30, with an average high school GPA of 3.51. Notably, the college is test-optional and accepts the Common Application. About 63% of students receive financial aid, with first-year packages averaging $36,928—a significant draw for applicants weighing costs against Champlain's career-focused ROI.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Champlain’s ‘upside-down curriculum’ throws students into career-relevant coursework immediately, with over 100 professional programs spanning game design, cybersecurity, and business. Every major includes 30 flexible credits—equivalent to two semesters—for study abroad, double majors, or graduate certificates. The most popular programs are computer science (33% of students), visual/performing arts (19%), and business (16%). Reddit reviews praise its ‘inclusive faculty’ and ‘career-focused curriculum,’ while the Princeton Review highlights opportunities like game design in Kyoto. The IDX Student Life Center anchors campus with labs and collaborative spaces.
Burlington’s artsy, outdoorsy vibe permeates campus, where 82% of students live in college housing. The IDX Student Life Center packs in a dining hall, gym, and game rooms, while the Office of Student Engagement fosters community through clubs and leadership programs. Niche reviews highlight the ‘inclusive’ student body and proximity to Lake Champlain for hiking and skiing. With 18% of students living off-campus, Burlington’s coffee shops and music venues serve as de facto extensions of the college.
Champlain’s career-first approach pays off: 86% of the Class of 2024 secured jobs or continued education within six months, with 78% in career-relevant roles. The overall graduation rate is 63% (top 40% among peers), though men lag slightly at 60%. Alumni median earnings hit $36,427 one year post-graduation. The college’s ‘knowledge rate’ (tracking grads’ outcomes) is 81%, outperforming many liberal arts schools in transparency.
Sticker price is steep ($71,997 total cost), but 97% of first-years receive aid, slashing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $36,846. Aid packages average $37,618, with merit scholarships like the $22,500 Trustee Award and need-based $13,500 Access Scholarship. Starting in 2026, filing the FAFSA alone nets students $500 annually. The ‘gift aid’ breakdown for a typical package: $22.5k merit, $5k Champlain Scholarship, $13.5k need-based, $6.4k federal grants.
Champlain rejects the liberal arts playbook by front-loading career skills—whether in game design labs or cybersecurity simulations—while still offering Kyoto study trips and 30-credit ‘wild cards’ per major. Its 83% acceptance rate belies strong outcomes: 86% career placement, fueled by Burlington’s tech scene and an ‘inclusive, scrappy’ campus culture (per Reddit). For students who want employable chops without sacrificing adventure, it’s a rare blend of pragmatism and Vermont wanderlust.