UVM’s Class of 2028 Reflects Ongoing Growth of In-State Enrollment full story >>>

Ask an incoming Catamount where they're from, and you'd better have your atlas handy.

The University of Vermont's Class of 2028 is most notably distinguished by a continued increase in students from Vermont, befitting UVM's position as the state's flagship public university - but its growing appeal is not confined by the state's borders. Roughly 50 percent of the class is from outside New England-including approximately 47 states and 28 countries-reflecting the university's growing national and international recognition.

"UVM is widely recognized for offering a world-class educational experience for our students," said President Suresh Garimella. "Our commitment to Vermonters helps fulfill our public land-grant mission here in our state, while broadening our appeal beyond the borders of Vermont makes us a global destination for higher education."

The Class of 2028 is one of the most accomplished and diverse first-year group of students in the university's history, drawing from nearly 30,000 applicants. Some of this year's outstanding students include:

• A student from Vermont who started a non-profit called Little Free Hygiene, which distributes basic hygiene products to people in need
• A student from Maryland who sailed across the Atlantic during her junior year, and was a youth project manager with an organization that builds human-powered submarines
• A Connecticut firefighter who became a certified volunteer EMT in 10th grade and provided his community with over 2,000 hours of service
• A student born in China who received a Girl Scout community service/citizenship award from Senator Elizabeth Warren and started a food waste reduction initiative
• A student from Ontario who is preparing a research paper on iron oxide-coated nanoparticles for publication in an academic journal

This year's six percent increase in Vermonters follows an eight percent increase last year, occurring at a time when the number of high school graduates is declining statewide. This growth of in-state enrollment is fueled by the university's commitment to affordability, including six years of flat tuition for Vermonters and the UVM Promise, which provides full tuition scholarships to Vermont students from households making up to $75,000 annually, alongside energetic outreach to engage potential applicants across the Green Mountain State.

"We visited high schools all across the state, and it paid off - nearly 85 percent of college-bound Vermont high school seniors applied to UVM," said Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Jay Jacobs. "In-state enrollment continues to climb, and affordability is a clear driver for that. We now have more than 150 eligible students from Vermont who pay no tuition and fees, thanks to the UVM Promise Program."

Jacobs said the university employed several innovative recruitment strategies this year, including the inaugural Vermont Pitch Challenge for high school entrepreneurs, which drew nearly 150 teams from seven countries and 27 states. The winner, a student from Killington, Vermont, won a full tuition and fees scholarship.

"The event drew tremendous interest from across the nation and beyond, increasing UVM's visibility to innovative, entrepreneurial, and ambitious students looking for a university that fuels their interests and creates opportunities to put ideas into action," Jacobs said.

The university's new cohort of graduate students -which boasts students from 50 countries-continues the trend of excellence and diversity. Applications to the UVM Graduate College's 30 doctoral, 55 master's, and over 30 graduate certificate programs for Fall 2024 experienced a 14-percent increase, with a significant increase in international applications.

"International students have been the fastest-growing segment among our graduate students," said Holger Hoock, vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral studies and dean of the graduate college. "Their global perspectives enrich the intellectual vitality of our graduate programs and the educational experience of all graduate students, and, with that, our university, and region." 

The Larner College of Medicine received a record 9,340 applications for its M.D. program, a 6 percent increase over last year. For one of the smaller medical programs in the U.S. and the only medical school in Vermont, Larner attracts a remarkably diverse incoming class. Approximately 26% percent are Vermonters.

UVM houses the third-largest number of students in campus housing among New England universities. A record number of students-over 6,100-will live in UVM housing this academic year with the opening of Catamount Run-with 137 units opening this fall (324 in total by Summer 2025) within walking distance of campus in South Burlington, and Catamount East, a brand-new apartment building dedicated for UVM juniors, seniors, and transfer students, opened this fall with 147 units.

To prepare students for success, UVM offers many orientation programs, including UVM Go, a pre-orientation travel program, focusing on global learning and developing intercultural awareness, which brought incoming first-year students to eight cities in Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, and the U.S. Other orientation programs include: TREK, where new students experience outdoor adventures in the lakes, rivers and mountains of Vermont; Summer Academy, which prepares high school students for university; and Week of Welcome (WOW), which provides an array of free concerts, movies, recreational and community service activities to ease the transition to college life.

"Our interest is in finding new ways for students to make connections with each other before their academic journey begins," said Vice Provost for Student Affairs Erica Caloiero. "The programs make students feel welcome in their new home, and factors into persistence-a student's tendency to stick with college through those first challenging months."

While the university will publish official enrollment statistics in September after the annual student census, the UVM expects an incoming class of roughly 2,840 first-year undergraduate students.

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University of Vermont: For people and planet

Founded in 1791, UVM is the leading public research university where discovery, creativity, community, and action coalesce to secure a thriving future for people and planet. Vermont's state flagship and land-grant university attracts $250 million annually in groundbreaking research and enrolls approximately 14,000 students from 50 states and 75 countries. At UVM, students, faculty, and staff work together in pursuit of a healthier, greener future. Learn more at uvm.edu.

 

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