Vermont State University

Vermont State University's published cost of attendance is $25,988. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $14,645, middle-income families pay around $16,279, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,007.

Azimuth ranks Vermont State University #238 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Vermont State University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. The institution's aid structure is designed to meet demonstrated financial need for Vermont residents and out-of-state students through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans.

Families apply using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,735; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,249, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Vermont State University earn median 4-year earnings of $56,249, placing Vermont State University in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among public four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,460 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Vermont State University in the 43.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among public four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Vermont State University #1010 for return on investment among public four-year institutions — in the 31.8 percentile for return on investment among public four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern reflects Vermont State University's focus on applied fields. Business Administration, Management and Operations is the largest program with 23 graduates earning median earnings of $51,438, and Azimuth ranks the program #292 nationally among public four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing #279 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 21 graduates earning $77,267. Azimuth ranks Dental Support Services and Allied Professions #27 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting Vermont State University's strength in Engineering Technology fields.

Vermont State University's program mix is anchored in Engineering Technology, reflecting its applied, workforce-oriented identity. Business accounts for 26% of graduates, with Engineering representing another 9% — together forming the core of the university's degree output.

Across 9 programs serving roughly 96 students annually, the strongest financial outcomes cluster in technical and applied fields. Nursing combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.

Among the most-enrolled programs, Business Administration program graduates 23 students with median earnings of $51,438 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks this program #301 for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing, with a cohort of 21, shows median earnings of $77,267 four years after enrollment, ranked #296 in the Azimuth coverage set.

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions rounds out the popular programs with 10 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $61,991, ranked #32 among nonprofit four-year institutions. The highest-earning programs are concentrated in technical fields.

Construction Management, with 5 graduates, leads with median earnings of $88,301 four years after enrollment. Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians follows with a cohort of 7 and median earnings of $84,601.

These programs reflect the institution's strength in applied fields where graduates enter labor markets with in-demand skills.