Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
Quick Facts
“Scientia et Virtus (Latin)”(Knowledge and Virtue)
Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education
About Middlebury College
Middlebury College: A premier liberal arts institution nestled in Vermont, fostering global understanding.
Middlebury College stands as a distinguished private liberal arts institution, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and global engagement. Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Middlebury, Vermont, the college provides a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment for its nearly 2,800 undergraduates. Prospective students are drawn to its rigorous academic programs, particularly its acclaimed Language Schools, which offer intensive immersion in ten different languages, and its pioneering Environmental Studies program, the first of its kind at the undergraduate level in the U.S.
Dating back to its founding in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was Vermont's first operating college, a testament to the vision of local town fathers like Seth Storrs and Gamaliel Painter. Its history is marked by groundbreaking achievements, including becoming one of the first New England liberal arts colleges to admit women in 1883. The college also boasts a rich legacy of diversity, with Alexander Twilight (Class of 1823) becoming the first Black graduate of any U.S. college or university, and Lemuel Haynes receiving the first advanced degree ever bestowed upon an African American in 1804.
Academically, Middlebury offers 45 majors across the arts and humanities, along with joint engineering programs, preparing students for diverse careers and advanced studies. Beyond its undergraduate offerings, the institution's global footprint is expanded by the Bread Loaf School of English, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and the extensive C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad program, operating in 38 international locations. This comprehensive approach ensures a deeply immersive and globally aware education.
Student life at Middlebury is characterized by a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation for its rural setting. The college's 31 varsity teams, the Middlebury Panthers, compete fiercely in NCAA Division III, while social houses, evolving from the college's history with fraternities, provide diverse social opportunities. With an endowment of $1.7 billion, Middlebury continues to invest in its students, faculty, and facilities, upholding its motto, "Scientia et Virtus" – Knowledge and Virtue.
Key Highlights
- ✦Founded in 1800, it was the first operating college or university in Vermont.
- ✦Pioneered co-education among New England liberal arts colleges, accepting women in 1883.
- ✦Established the first undergraduate Environmental Studies program in the U.S. in 1965.
- ✦Home to world-renowned Language Schools offering intensive immersion in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
- ✦Alexander Twilight (Class of 1823) was the first Black graduate of any U.S. college or university.
- ✦Boasts a significant endowment of approximately $1.7 billion (2025).
- ✦Offers 45 majors and competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Middlebury Panthers.
Timeline
Schools & Colleges
4 notable schools within Middlebury College
Middlebury College Language Schools
Intensive summer language immersion programs in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Bread Loaf School of English
Middlebury's graduate school of English, with campuses in Vermont, Oxford, New Mexico, and North Carolina.
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
A graduate school focused on international policy, translation, and language studies, officially designated as a graduate school of Middlebury College in 2010.
C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad
International programs offering study opportunities at 38 sites in 17 countries and Puerto Rico.
Find Scholarships at Middlebury College
Sign up free to discover grants and scholarships you qualify for at this school and thousands more.
Start Your Free Search