Cost of college in Vermont
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Vermont averages $17,394 a year, or $19,078 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $59,629 and owe about $19,558. The net price pays back in about 4.3 years.
How Vermont compares to the US
Vermont ranks #1 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #17 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #23 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Vermont | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $17,394 | $9,518 | +$7,876 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $40,069 | $23,652 | +$16,417 |
| Net price after aid | $19,078 | $13,788 | +$5,290 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $59,629 | $56,427 | +$3,202 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,558 | $17,856 | +$1,702 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Vermont pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Vermont costs about $76,312 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.3 years from the roughly $17,829-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #23 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Vermont list about $56,117 in tuition and net out to about $30,853 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Vermont?
At a public 4-year college in Vermont, in-state tuition and fees average about $17,394 a year and out-of-state runs about $40,069. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $19,078. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Vermont earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Vermont's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $59,629 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $19,558 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Vermont?
A public 4-year degree in Vermont costs about $76,312 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.3 years from the roughly $17,829-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.