Best Value Degrees in Vermont (2026)

Top 100 of 119 programs in Vermont · Updated 2026

The best college programs in Vermont, ranked by overall value. We scored 119 programs across Vermont schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $46,025/yr in graduate earnings.

Why a Public Nursing Degree is Vermont's #1 Value

Vermont State University’s nursing program clinches the top spot by mastering a simple formula: low cost plus high demand. As a public institution, its four-year tuition of $45,600 is a fraction of its private peers, directly fueling its massive 17.4x ROI. This financial advantage is paired with Vermont's intense, statewide demand for healthcare professionals, creating a direct and lucrative career pipeline for graduates into well-paying roles ($75,160/yr) that are essential to the state's health infrastructure.

The Middlebury Paradox: When a Top School Isn't a Top Value

It's jarring to see an elite school like Middlebury College offer a lower ROI (4.7x) on its #3-ranked Economics degree than a public university's computer science program. The reason is cost. With a staggering $261,120 price tag, even six-figure earning potential can't produce a top-tier ROI in the short term. This highlights a key trade-off: Middlebury sells prestige and a powerful alumni network—a long-term asset—while our value ranking prioritizes immediate financial return on your investment.

AI Won't Replace Coders, It Will Promote Them Faster

Computer Science and related tech fields show "Very High" AI risk (up to 63%), but this doesn't mean the jobs are disappearing. It means the job of a junior developer is changing. AI coding assistants are automating routine tasks, raising the bar for entry-level talent. Graduates in 2026 won't be hired to simply write boilerplate code; they'll be expected to architect systems, manage AI-driven tools, and solve complex problems from day one, accelerating the path from junior-level execution to senior-level strategy.

The Public-Private Divide: A Clear Choice Between ROI and Prestige

While private colleges represent over half the top 20, Vermont's public universities deliver the best pure financial value. The #1 and #2 spots—both nursing programs at public schools—demonstrate how lower tuition directly creates superior ROI. Private institutions like Champlain and Norwich offer specialized, career-focused programs with strong earnings, but their high costs ($182k+) lead to significantly lower returns (2.4x-4.0x). The choice is clear: for the fastest financial payback, public schools are the winners; for specialized paths or prestige, private schools charge a premium.

Programs in VT

119

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$46,025/yr

Avg DW Score

47/100

#1 Program

Nursing

Vermont State University

Top Institutions

Leading the field for Best Degrees in Vermont

The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 100 programs below.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 85

Nursing

Vermont State University · Randolph, VT · Public

University of Vermont · VT · #2

$73,068/yr · 9.4x ROI

Economics

Middlebury College · VT · #3

$85,879/yr · 4.7x ROI

Computer Science

University of Vermont · VT · #4

$62,974/yr · 9.8x ROI

The Ranking Matrix

Top Programs in Vermont

Top 100 programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full analysis.

Sort by

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Nursing Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	85 82–85	$75,160/yr	High	17.4x
2	Nursing University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	78 75–78	$73,068/yr	High	9.4x
3	Economics Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	75 70–76	$85,879/yr	Very High	4.7x
4	Computer Science University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	75 68–76	$62,974/yr	Very High	9.8x
5	Business Administration University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	71 65–71	$51,051/yr	High	10.1x
6	IT Management Champlain College · Burlington, VT	70 65–72	$72,652/yr	Very High	3.8x
7	Nursing Norwich University · Northfield, VT	70 67–70	$74,283/yr	High	2.9x
8	Information Sciences Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	68 64–68	$43,810/yr	Very High	13.2x
9	Mechanical Engineering University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	65 63–66	$61,626/yr	Very High	10.6x
10	Software Development Champlain College · Burlington, VT	63 57–64	$52,260/yr	Very High	3.3x
11	Security Science and Technology Champlain College · Burlington, VT	63 55–63	$70,586/yr	High	3.9x
12	Information Science Norwich University · Northfield, VT	63 57–64	$98,551/yr	Very High	4.0x
13	Electromechanical Technology Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	63 62–63	$66,749/yr	Moderate	16.0x
14	Civil Engineering University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	63 61–64	$61,898/yr	High	9.3x
15	Computer Science Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	62 54–63	$80,158/yr	Very High	2.1x
16	Allied Health Professions University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	62 61–62	$69,873/yr	Moderate	7.4x
17	Accounting Champlain College · Burlington, VT	61 58–63	$61,306/yr	Very High	2.6x
18	Finance Champlain College · Burlington, VT	60 58–61	$61,658/yr	Very High	2.4x
19	International Relations Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	60 57–61	$68,344/yr	High	3.4x
20	Business Administration Norwich University · Northfield, VT	60 54–60	$46,409/yr	High	3.0x
21	Accounting Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	60 61–62	$41,488/yr	Very High	11.1x
22	Clinical Laboratory Science University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	60 59–59	$64,930/yr	Moderate	8.8x
23	Health and Medical Administrative Services Champlain College · Burlington, VT	58 52–59	$61,265/yr	High	2.4x
24	Business Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	58 54–59	$41,496/yr	High	10.3x
25	IT Management Norwich University · Northfield, VT	57 52–59	$60,988/yr	Very High	2.1x
26	Construction Management Norwich University · Northfield, VT	57 58–58	$46,751/yr	High	3.0x
27	Accounting Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	57 54–59	$56,723/yr	Very High	1.8x
28	Environmental Engineering University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	57 55–58	$63,697/yr	Very High	8.4x
29	Computer Science Champlain College · Burlington, VT	56 49–57	$54,036/yr	Very High	2.0x
30	Economics Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	56 52–57	$47,211/yr	Very High	2.6x
31	Business Administration Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	55 51–56	$37,469/yr	High	10.4x
32	Business Administration Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	54 47–54	$51,126/yr	High	2.1x
33	Subject-Area Teaching University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	54 59–55	$41,099/yr	High	6.1x
34	Intelligence & Security Operations Norwich University · Northfield, VT	53 50–54	$73,947/yr	High	4.0x
35	Criminal Justice Norwich University · Northfield, VT	53 43–53	$43,523/yr	Moderate	2.7x
36	Teacher Education Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	53 60–54	$42,290/yr	High	8.3x
37	Political Science Norwich University · Northfield, VT	52 47–52	$43,988/yr	Very High	3.0x
38	Teacher Education Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	52 56–52	$45,489/yr	High	1.3x
39	Teacher Education University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	52 59–53	$41,720/yr	High	5.5x
40	Mechanical Engineering Norwich University · Northfield, VT	51 50–53	$48,799/yr	Very High	3.1x
41	Criminal Justice Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	51 42–52	$33,093/yr	Moderate	10.5x
42	Electrical Engineering University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	51 48–52	$61,803/yr	Very High	7.2x
43	Economics University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	51 52–52	$38,452/yr	Very High	6.9x
44	Business Administration Champlain College · Burlington, VT	50 44–51	$46,334/yr	High	2.1x
45	Political Science Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	48 43–49	$59,026/yr	Very High	1.3x
46	Marketing Champlain College · Burlington, VT	46 41–47	$42,569/yr	Very High	2.6x
47	International Relations Norwich University · Northfield, VT	46 44–47	$43,621/yr	High	2.9x
48	Health & Physical Education Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	46 44–46	$37,493/yr	Moderate	10.0x
49	Civil Engineering Norwich University · Northfield, VT	45 47–46	$44,884/yr	High	2.6x
50	Public Relations & Advertising University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	44 47–45	$35,931/yr	High	6.7x
51	Education Goddard College · Plainfield, VT	42 41–43	$56,397/yr	High	5.0x
52	Psychology Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	42 38–43	$43,839/yr	High	1.7x
53	History Norwich University · Northfield, VT	42 38–43	$42,940/yr	High	2.0x
54	Psychology Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	42 40–43	$37,452/yr	High	9.1x
55	Biology University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	42 41–43	$36,491/yr	High	7.0x
56	Mathematics University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	42 48–43	$30,408/yr	Very High	9.7x
57	Political Science University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	42 41–43	$31,594/yr	Very High	7.1x
58	Biochemistry University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	41 43–42	$36,680/yr	High	8.2x
59	Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	41 38–41	$32,386/yr	High	3.3x
60	Clinical Psychology Champlain College · Burlington, VT	40 39–41	$39,258/yr	High	1.5x
61	History Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	40 37–41	$40,195/yr	High	0.5x
62	Psychology Norwich University · Northfield, VT	40 36–40	$41,164/yr	High	2.1x
63	Biology Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	40 38–41	$39,471/yr	High	8.5x
64	Liberal Arts & Humanities Champlain College · Burlington, VT	38 40–38	$71,207/yr	Low	2.2x
65	Political Science Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	38 35–38	$34,307/yr	Very High	2.3x
66	Liberal Arts & Humanities Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	38 41–38	$41,999/yr	Low	9.6x
67	Health & Physical Education University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	38 37–39	$27,835/yr	Moderate	7.0x
68	Criminal Justice Champlain College · Burlington, VT	37 27–37	$35,003/yr	Moderate	1.4x
69	Arts & Media Management Champlain College · Burlington, VT	37 24–37	$37,872/yr	High	1.1x
70	Psychology University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	37 36–37	$32,674/yr	High	6.0x
71	Natural Resources & Conservation Research Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	36 32–37	$39,997/yr	High	8.4x
72	Natural Resources & Conservation Research Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	35 30–36	$46,758/yr	High	0.8x
73	Nutrition Sciences University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	35 36–36	$33,389/yr	High	7.0x
74	Biochemistry Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	34 32–35	$44,142/yr	High	0.7x
75	History Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	34 34–35	$29,907/yr	High	7.6x
76	Social Work University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	34 49–35	$32,335/yr	Moderate	6.0x
77	Sociology University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	34 32–34	$31,798/yr	High	5.6x
78	History University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	34 34–35	$28,254/yr	High	5.7x
79	Neuroscience Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	33 30–34	$44,585/yr	High	0.7x
80	Health & Physical Education Norwich University · Northfield, VT	33 31–33	$33,805/yr	Moderate	0.7x
81	Geography and Cartography University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	33 35–34	$33,424/yr	High	3.4x
82	Psychology Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	32 29–32	$36,902/yr	High	1.6x
83	Plant Sciences University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	32 29–33	$33,221/yr	High	3.4x
84	Human Development & Family Studies University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	32 37–32	$25,249/yr	High	2.3x
85	Anthropology University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	32 27–33	$31,717/yr	High	5.0x
86	Design Champlain College · Burlington, VT	31 35–31	$38,264/yr	High	1.8x
87	Communication and Media Studies Norwich University · Northfield, VT	31 24–31	$37,161/yr	High	0.9x
88	Biology Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	31 29–31	$36,327/yr	High	1.9x
89	Fine Arts Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	31 26–31	$30,233/yr	Moderate	7.0x
90	Animal Sciences University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	31 28–32	$34,467/yr	High	4.7x
91	Neuroscience University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	31 31–32	$34,547/yr	High	6.1x
92	Biology Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT	30 29–31	$34,891/yr	High	0.3x
93	Music Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	30 21–30	$27,719/yr	High	7.7x
94	Teacher Education Champlain College · Burlington, VT	29 45–30	$26,805/yr	High	1.7x
95	Sociology Saint Michael's College · Colchester, VT	29 27–30	$36,605/yr	High	1.5x
96	Alternative Medicine Vermont State University · Randolph, VT	29 36–30	$35,347/yr	Moderate	6.8x
97	Fine Arts University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	29 26–30	$24,497/yr	Moderate	5.5x
98	Health Sciences University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	29 31–30	$36,441/yr	High	3.8x
99	English University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	28 22–29	$31,293/yr	Very High	5.3x
100	International Studies University of Vermont · Burlington, VT	28 34–29	$33,757/yr	Moderate	6.0x

FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best college program in Vermont?

By DegreeOutlook Score, Nursing at Vermont State University ranks #1 in Vermont with a score of 85/100 and graduate earnings of $75,160/yr.

How many college programs are in Vermont?

Our database includes 119 programs across Vermont colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.