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Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT

private nonprofitgraduate

Quick Facts

Scientia et Virtus (Latin)(Knowledge and Virtue)

1800
Founded
Private liberal arts college
Type
2,785
Total Students
2,773
Undergrad
$1.7B
Endowment
(2025)
$65K
Tuition (In-State)
$65K
Tuition (Out-State)
$26K
Avg Net Price
10%
Acceptance Rate
93%
Graduation Rate
6-year
94%
Retention Rate
Baccalaureate Colleges
Classification
President: Ian Baucom

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

1797
Addison County Grammar School, a precursor to the college, was founded.
1800
Middlebury College received its founding charter and began classes, becoming the first operating college in Vermont.
1823
Alexander Twilight, the first Black graduate of any U.S. college or university, graduated.
1883
Trustees voted to accept women as students, making Middlebury coeducational.
1915
The German Language School was founded, initiating the tradition of the Middlebury College Language Schools.
1920
The Bread Loaf School of English was established.
1965
Middlebury established the first undergraduate Environmental Studies program in the U.S.
1990
Nationally affiliated fraternities were abolished, with some becoming co-educational social houses.
2005
Signed an affiliation agreement with the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
2014
The Monterey Institute of International Studies was renamed the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
2025
Ian Baucom appointed as the college's 18th president.
🏛️
226 Years
of Excellence

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.

Leadership

Ian Baucom
President

Data from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

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